sylvinator

So true. Using the most basic of logic it is so bleeding obvious that signing now would let him focus more on his footy than having the whole year full of media speculation. It makes absolutely zero sense. Unfortunately there are only 2 real explanations for that kind of rediculous comment. 1. It is a pure lie. He is 'leaving negotations to the end of the year' just like all those who signed with the Gold Coast. 2. The management is using spin. Instead of being straight and saying its a strategy to get the biggest possible contract, he's using a lame transparent excuse. Either option is pretty rediculous by his management. As if people can't tell it's bull

He is a cancer on any football club. 2 playing groups can testify to it. I'd be very dissappointed in the club if they considered recruiting Fev, and it won't happen because it goes against our recruiting philosophy of building a team through the draft. 31 year old trouble-making bad influences are not wanted!

To be fair, the club has recognised our weakness in the midfield, and drafted with a strong midfield emphasis from 2007-2009. We drafted Morton and Grimes in 2007... Strauss, Blease, Bennel, Jetta, Mckenzie and Bail in 2008... and Scully, Trengove, Gysberts and Tapscott in 2009. We really just need to fast-track these young midfielders as much as possible, because we won't make finals until our midfield group can at least break even in the inside 50 count.

Disclaimer: This thesis and all the stats in the post are sourced from the 2011 AFL Prospectus. Is clearly outlines our inability to get the ball inside 50, which is something I've suspected has been holding us back for a long time. I thought it was worthwhile sharing with this forum. "In simple terms, if you get the ball forward more often than the opposition, you're likely to win. And if getting the ball inside the forward 50 arc more than the opposition is the key to winning a premiership, Melbourne is a long way off, despite all the hype. Forward 50 entry numbers are a reliable and simple way of measuring the performance of a team's midfield. And you would have to say the Demons' midfield pack isn't cutting it. Since 2000 no premiership team has been in the negative as far as forward 50 entires versus the opposition. Year Premiers Inside 50 Differential Rank 2010 Collingwood 11.6 1st 2009 Geelong 9 2nd 2008 Hawthorn 9.1 2nd 2007 Geelong 9.3 1st 2006 WCE 4 4th 2005 Sydney 3.8 5th 2004 Port 1.3 7th 2003 Brisbane 4.3 2nd 2002 Brisbane 8.5 2nd 2001 Brisbane 6.4 4th 2000 Essendon 13.7 1st Port +1.3 per game differential was the lowest of any premier. The Power class of 2004 was the only team outside the top 5 for inside 50 differential. Collingwood was No. 1 last year, Geelong second in 2009, Hawthorn second in 2008 and Geelong No.1 in 2007. Clearly, it is a huge recipe for success. When the Demons drew with Collingwood last year, they had 20 less inside 50s than the Pies. That said plenty. Super game, stirring effort, but in reality the number suggested a win would have been miraculous. The quality of the Demons' entries was good that day, but a bit of quantity doesn't hurt either. If winning the inside 50 count was the only guide in judging a midfield's year, Melbourne failed. They won the count just 5 times and 3 of those were in the opening 5 rounds. And for the fourth year in a row Melbourne's inside 50 differential ranked 16th in the competition. 2007= -8.1 --> Ranked 16th 2008= -14.4 ---> Ranked 16th 2009= -9.6 ---> Ranked 16th 201= -7.2 ---> Ranked 16th While the mifdield improved in 2010, it needs to give the back-line a break and the young forward-line more opportunities. There is plenty of work to do, Bails." Very damning statistics over the past 4 years. Against Essendon we lost inside 50 count something like 60-30, so clearly we haven't fixed the problem. What do people make of this?

Agree. Guys like Jamar, Davey, Green, Sylvia have had several pre-seasons, they've all completed most of this pre-season so are all fit. The only thing that can really come out of playing every nab cup match is an increased chance of injury. I'd like to see these guys rested this week, and brought back next week for the final practise match

He was clearly running at half pace because it's only the nab cup. Wouldn't be writing him off just yet. He played a few fantastic games last season and was critical in the clearances

1. I will get incredible enjoyment watching Jurrah, Trengove, Sylvia and Grimes this season (also Frawley and Scully when they come in) 2. We really need a decent back-up ruck option, we are screwed if Jamar goes down 3. Our midfield is our real weakness, we won't make finals until we have a midfield that can put us into our forward 50 at least as many times as the opposition 4. We are 1-2 really good defenders short of being a great defence. Most teams would do anything for a core group of Frawley, Garland and Grimes, but we lack class outside those 3 guys. Really evident how much it effects us when Frawley is out. Add one Sam Fisher/Heath Shaw-esk player would be just what the doctor ordered 5. We have a forward line that is 1-2 seasons away from firing, but is absolutely chock-a-block full of talent- Jurrah, Watts, Cook, Howe, Pettard, Dunn, Green, Wona, Tapscott, Maric...

Grimes was absolutely outstanding in a defence completely under seige. a couple of rediculous opinions in this thread

Our midfield is our weakness. Full stop. I'm sick of getting smashed in the inside 50s, the clearances and just generally our midfield just doesn't compete.

Still don't quite understand the notion that a player can want to sign, but isn't allowed to by his own management. Makes absolutely zero sense, Tom must have agreed with his management's suggestion to wait until the end of the year to maximise his contract

It's not a big deal. Assuming they owe Fev $1.5m for the next 2 years, they are just allowing $750k to be reported in the salary cap each year, instead of the front ended contract they have. $1.5m will still have to go towards the cap.

She's a 17 year old, who was taken advantage of by multiple stkilda players, who treated her like she's awesome, until one of them got her pregnant and they dumped her like a piece of rubbish. The afl players treated her like shizen, and this is just one of numerous examples of afl players thinking they can treat girls like they are worthless and have no consequences. This girl has been put through hell and back. The way she tried to exact revenge was immature and spiteful... and she will probably readily admit that looking back in a few years... but guess what? She is immature, she's an underage teenager. She should be seen as a victim, and these new revelations about Nixon just show how these dirty older men and taking advantage of her.

So you're placing the blame on a vulnerable 17 y/o, and not on the 47 y/o man who went to her hotel room with alcohol in hand?

Just writing that post infuriated me even more. Facts are... Scully is strategizing to earn the greatest amount of dollars possible. He knows he'll get a rediculous contract now, but is waiting till August to maximise it an extra 50k, or an extra 100k whatever it is. Sure some people might say- 'that's reasonable, any person would want to maximise their earnings, why should Scully be any different.' And that argument is a reasonable one. HOWEVER , the fact is that we will NOT will a premiership if every one of our young stars demands to suck every last dollar possible out of our club. Premiership sides of the past have been able to field their outstanding teams because some great players weren't earning every last dollar. Corey Enright will still finish his career a rich man, but he could have gone to essendon, been even richer, and not won his 2 premierships. Yet Scully will probably earn more money in 2012 as a 20 year old up-n-comer, than Enright (a multiple All Australian and star player) has at any time throughout his career. Scully (and his management's) attitude does not sit right with me one bit.

I guess the above is all pretty reasonable, and nothing earth-shattering really... But there is something that just doesn't sit right with me about all this. The kid is 19 years old, literally just started his dream of playing footy. If he thought about it long and hard, surely he'd come to the logical conclusion that he has at least 4 contracts and 13-15 years of earning potential ahead of him. If he signed today with Melbourne he'd get a really awesome contract, way above his market value (he really should not be earning more than Sylvia based on performances), and he'd be part of a team pushing for a premiership within 2-3 years. I mean I understand that he's got to maximize his contract. But the way he's doing it is really cut-throat. He's leveraging the club to maximise his earning to the very last dollar. The way he's going about it is what I'd expect a 26 year old to do, knowing he's coming into his final seriously big contract. Scully's market value is huge at the moment. He'll get a massive long-term contract with Melbourne if he signs now. Waiting till August in order to maximise his earning potential by another few thousand dollars, at his age and experience, is just a little unsavoury for me. Lastly, there have been many demons players who leveraged the club for huge contracts like Scully is now. They did it from their first contract, and every subsequent contract as well- fielding offers from rival clubs, forcing Melbourne to pay over the top to keep them. These guys, like Bruce, White and Yze really put the club to the sword to keep them, and i'd argue that were these guys more focused on team-success, we would have actually had a chance at a premiership in those years. The way Scully (his management) is going about it is just a little unsavoury, they are putting the club to the sword to pay overs for him, and it is the club who will suffer long term. Geelong won 2 premierships for one main reason. They had 10 All Australians on their list, yet not one of them leveraged the club to pay top dollar for them. They put team success first. If guys like Scully, and then Grimes, Watts, Trengove, Jurrah etc, all prioritise getting top dollar, we will not be able to keep the best team possible and it will make us less likely to win a premiership. Rant over.

I really like the fact he wins 50-50 contests. Such an important quality in todays footy, being able to regularly beat your opponant in a one-on-one. His disposal is ok, what he adds is toughness and reliability. He will be important for at least the next 2 years imo. A really good pickup for a pre-season pick

There is currently a one-way rivalry between North and demons atm, and that's the way I like it. Demons supporters are generally confident in their team's ability to be a future premiership contender. We couldn't care less about Norf because we know we have their measure going forward. North rate themselves as a competitor and therefore spend most of their time trying to prove they are better going forward than us. I'd be happy if other teams feel the need to prove themselves against us.

I'm liking Bate as a leading high half forward, leading several times and using his running ability to take marks around 70m out from goal and kicking the odd long bomb. We've got enough quality now that we can let him play to his strengths, don't need him to play as a tall marking forward. Our forward line has plenty of options loving that. I think Watts and Cook will be a ripper combination in years to come

Bate has always had lots of injuries, and he's always taken a really long time to get back consistency and mobility coming back from injuries. He's had a full pre-season so hopefully he has a good year.

Bail I really really like as a player. He needs to polish up his kicks. I know he's been working at it over the summer, but if he hit more targets he'd be a real weapon. Strauss i'm really concerned about, don't think he has what it takes in the big league. Every time i've seen him play he's seemed rushed, overawed and ordinary.

really like the look of him. Makes good decisions, good skill execution, seems like a smart footballer. He won't make a real impact until 2013 because he's so skinny, but looks like he's got a build to really fill out big time. Love the way we've recruited recently- Jurrah, Watts, Cook, Bate and Howe and suddenly I believe our tall forward options are pretty good going forward

There is no real reason for Scully to postpone contract negotiations till the end of the year unless he's leaving. Maybe late last year he thought it was a good idea, but he wouldn't have realised what a stir it would make. Now that he does realise it will be scrutinised the entire year, it makes sense that he'd want to get it out of the way now, assuming he really does want to stay at Melbourne. His value now is enourmous anyways, so he could get an awesome long-term deal. If he doesn't sign in the next 3 weeks he's GAWN imo.

not a disaster. Season started in like 7 weeks, he should almost be ready round 1. He will still be able to run. He'll also be able to do ball handling kills once they put something on his finger to protect it

I don't see why we can't get close to any offer GWS makes. First things first, they CANNOT offer Scully more than $1m per season. They do have extra in the cap, but their list size is also larger by about 16 players. Realistically, they are only going to be able to afford 1 superstar on about $1.5m (ala Ablett) + 6 or 7 others on around $500,000. If they take a different approach to GC Suns, and take a player from every list in the AFL, they'll have even less money to pay all those experienced players. Plus, does anyone really think it would be wise for GWS to spent the money they have for 1 superstar on Scully? Sure he looks a jet, but he has deficiencies and hasn't had his break out yet. As if you wouldn't prefer a guy like Pendlebury or Swan? Also, if anyone remember, we have been front loading contracts for 3 years now, in anticipation of this. We have over $1m spare in the cap. It's my opinion that we could easily pay Scully $6-700,000 a year on a long term 5 year deal easily. We can afford it and he's worth it. $700,000 compared to $1m would not be worth moving for imo, when you consider all the other factors which say he should stay with melbourne. He'll be a millionare whatever choice he makes

On topic, logic tells me there is no way Scully would sign a contract with gws after only 1 year of afl. He would know that he's got a decade or more worth of huge contracts, n Melbourne would certainly compensate Scully with a super lucrative long term deal. Melbourne r on the verge of something special, why would he go live in western Sydney? HOWEVER, what really worries me is the consistent rumours that he's signed with gws. Last year the huge majority of players that were spoken about consistently as leaving turned out to be going to gc. Some say that Where there's smoke there's fire, I'm hoping that is not the case here. Losing scaly would be a stab through the heart n really affect our ability to be the 'team of the decade'.