Nasher

If you didn't hear it from Jim Stynes, then it's not from Jim Stynes. It's just yet another rumour on the internet.

Good call, I loved that. The timing of the handpass was absolutely sensational - couldn't have done it any better. I wouldn't have blamed him if he'd shot off the handball sooner rather than drawing the two men. Best part was that his teammate honoured his hard work by slotting the goal too.

+1.

Nothing to add, just wanted to see this^ line get a second run.

To suggest that choosing Scully was a mistake because of that is silly, though. I'm sure Freo are spewing they drafted Pav too - after all, he pulls this stunt just about every time his contract comes up. To suggest that choosing Scully was a mistake because he didn't "look happy" as Robbie suggested is up there with the silliest things I've read in this thread, which takes some doing. Scully was drafted where he was because he was considered (almost universally) to be the best player in the draft.

Oh FFS.

Are you really asking for a player to handle contract negotiations differently just because there are rumours? Frankly, it's not Tom Scully's problem if Gubby Allan's rumour factory has put a few jumpy supporters' nickers in a twist, and if I were his manager I'd be advising him the same thing. If what you're suggesting ever became the way, we'd start seeing the clubs themselves start generating rumours about their own players, just so they could play the "sorry son, the rumours are everywhere so we need you to sign yesterday or else" card.

To paraphrase what you've said there: "there's rumours about Scully, there are no rumours about Sylvia." To summarise my response: "just as I thought: SFA". Thanks for clearing it up.

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me the difference between the Scully (non-)situation and Sylvia not being signed up yet. If I was a more reckless person than I am, I'd do everything I could to start spreading rumours about Sylvia just to see if he too ends up the being the brunt of the pettiness we see here about Scully.

I think I'd literally start crying if that change happened.

Pleased. Love it when all the changes make the team stronger.

I always laugh when people suggest "tempting" clubs with our spuds. There will not be a lick of interest in Bate and Dunn because funnily enough, other clubs will most likely share our view of where they're at in their career. The only hope of salvaging any value from those two is if GWS are desperate for experienced, hard bodies and even then we'd be KOTD if we got anything in return. And I don't love Jones, but I'd be mortified if we traded a guy coming in to his prime for a 30 year old ruckman who may or may not actually be any use, especially when we're not yet in our window and our list looks OK ruck wise. Would Hille be in our best 22 this year if we had Jamar in and Martin as second ruck? I'm not interested in playing Martin in a 'variety of roles' if that variety doesn't include actually being in the ruck for a good percentage of the time, so I don't think we've got room in the side for all three. I think the question of Hille boils down to - will he be a better 'second ruck' than Martin both now and in our window? At his age, I don't think so. And I hate the idea of recruiting players purely as "cover". That's what we've got Spencer and Gawn developing for. I guess in summary, not really interested.

Who wasn't disappointed with the Gys? He hardly got near it against Collingwood - but this boils down to the fact that the kid's played 12 matches and I reckon still has another 5 kilos to be added to his skinny frame. IMO there's nothing to be gained by dropping him from the side, I think we should be using this opportunity ("development year") to play our future Big 4 midfielders (you all know who I mean) in the same side together and rack up the games count as fast as physically possible. I think that for each match we leave Gysberts out, we're putting him one game further away from really hitting his straps.

I agree.

With you all the way on this one Thomo. If making the game bigger than it has ever been is "ruining" it then please, Andrew Demetriou, ruin it some more thanks.

Scully: I haven't signed anything with anyone. Sheedy: We haven't signed anyone. Demonland: He's so gone, we might as well start working out what compensation we'll get.

This of course assumes Scully has gone. As has been reiterated a million times now: not a reasonable assumption.

Yes I'm sure Tom is absolutely sweating now that Jon Ralph has turned up the heat. This.

Surely 'consistent' is simply the next logical step up from 'competitive'?

I realise you didn't, only the first paragraph of my post was intended as a response to.yours, the rest was in response to the thread in general.

Well done Jack. Hoping the next two years bears a little more luck than the first two.

Indeed, I'm not in favour of McKenzie, Trengove, or anyone with less than 50 (ideally 100) matches under their belt being burdened with the captaincy. Let the bloody kids find their feet in footy full stop first before putting others under their charge. I was pro-Green for skipper last year. He's clearly struggling with the job, but who else was there? Moloney showed us earlier in the year why he did not get the gig (see other post expecting 100% professionalism from the captain). Despite the obvious difference in form on the field, I don't think giving Green the arse and putting Moloney in is any kind of monumental leap forward, but Moloney is a long way ahead of Sylvia in the running. The truth is that any of them are really just filling in time until the real crop of leadership is ready to lead.

Aww man, how did you score that gig? I've been posting here for years hoping the club would recruit me for that job. Shattered. IT'S ALL BEEN FOR NOTHING. Edit: I do think the official position title of "Club Apologist" has a ring to it.

?! Being skilled and being tough/leadership material aren't mutually exclusive! Also, I highly doubt Sylvia is in the frame for skipper. Leads the way on the field no doubt, but does he lead the way full stop? Can you count on him to be 100% professional all the time, especially regarding recovery etc? Can you picture 'mentoring' the young blokes or just giving them a quick ring to say "keep up the good work"? Handling the press on a regular basis? I see Sylvia as a guy who has really only just reached 'full' adulthood himself. No doubting he's in our top couple of players in terms of ability, but I think he's still got some way to go before he's even remotely close to captain material.

Agreed.