Grand New Flag

Word is that Scully thinks that Bailey is a master tactician but a lousy motivator. But seriously, who actually knows. It is probable someone just made this up on one of these threads. Who knows? Which brings me to the main point. The truth. The truth is that nobody, not even Scully knows where he will play next season. Scully simply has not made a decision. This week I believe he is strongly leaning towards staying but if an offer comes that is too good to refuse he could well go. As I said even Scully does not know the answer, so how the hell does anyone else. This being the case it is absolutely pathetic that we have had thousands of posts over numerous threads, which have a very low if any facts and are only speculation, rumour and lies. Its time we all took a deep breath, relaxed and stopped this endless circle

Davey seriously struggles with the heavy tag he has been getting. I believe that the days of Davey getting such a heavy tag are limited due to the form of Scully, Treners, Silvia and Beamer. These players will be tagged before Davey. On any given day when Davey is getting smashed with a heavy tag, we should play him as a small forward, where he will become very dangerous next to Jarrah. I think the Davey is going to be a massive plus for us as we push for a finals birth.

Much more concerned about the booing for Scully. I was in the MCC and one person behind me kept booing Scully every time he got a kick. Simply this is disgraceful behaviour; it is also incredibly dumb and embarrassing. I hope the MCC tapped him on the shoulder. I periodically get tapped on the shoulder for barracking too hard, that being the yard stick this guy should have been kicked out.

This Punt Rd thread is a great read. I was pleasantly surprised with virtually all positive comments. Further most of the comments that were negative got stuck into him for being slow and soft. Neither of these things are true. JW, Chip, and Flash (in that order) are “officially” the fastest over the 40 meters at the MFC. Although JW use to be soft at times, this appears to have completely disappeared over the last 6 weeks. What really surprised me was the number of tigers supporters who thought he was set for stardom.

Bull: will need a run with Casey to get match fit. Considering our bye two weeks at Casey will have him ready for Port. Morton: he is soft and needs to go hard when required. He is also clearly down on confidence. However, I truly rate his skills, pace, and ability to read the play. I feel he is a waisted asset, who we need to play into form. Morton will always be predominantly a receiver. There is still a very important place in modern football for players like him..... except in modern football these sort of players MUST still put their body on the line when it is their turn. Morton did not get much of an opportunity last week. He will be an awesome player in a good team. I say he keeps his spot. Blease: Can’t wait to see him, but at this point we have no one to drop for him. He must continue to wait for an injury or poor form of a current player. For me: No Change If McDonald is injured, Warnock gets the nod.

Your right Mac7, but the idea is Tom could say "trade me to Richmond and get something of value from Richmond or otherwise I will go to GWS for aprox pick 25." A trade would yield far higher compensation for Tom than a move to GWS. Again I don't think a trade is on the cards.

MMC: I don't mean to be rude but I think you have misread or misunderstood my post. As I said my friend was highly confident that Tom was going to stay at Melbourne FC after speaking to Tom's mum. His mother indicated that he would not be going to GWS. This being the case Tom is either staying at Melbourne and is using the GWS deal as leverage (most likely) or assessing other possibilities within Victoria. If my friends reading of the situation is correct (and he is not the sort of guy to make stuff up or big note himself) then the most likely situation is that Tom will re-sign with the MFC. The reason for the hold up until the end of the season is to give time for MFC to organise other "Visy" type deals. He knows what the Dees can offer directly but it is not yet clear what other "Visy" like deals will be added on. Tom is likely holding off, playing the game, using GWS as leverage, and waiting for extra deals to be added into the mix to ensure he stays. Quite frankly if I was in his position I would be doing the same. It must be stressed that his Mother "did not" hint or suggest in anyway that Tom was looking at another Melbourne club. I am sorry for any confusion. I must admit that my confidence in Tom staying increased dramatically after my lunch as I know my friend would not have made this up.

Take this as you like because the following is only here say. I had lunch with a close friend of mine yesterday who is also a Melbourne Supporter. We started talking about Scully. I was not aware of this but my friend knows the Scully Family in-particular Toms mother. Apparently the Scully family is not in favor of Tom going to Sydney, and not happy for Tom to be seen as "selling out" at this stage of his career. After speaking to Toms mother my friend was highly confident Tom would be staying a Demon but also thought that if anything Tom was eyeing off another Melbourne Club rather than GWS. He also said that the main problem was with Tom's manager. Tom's direct manager is apparently young and this is his first chance to show his worth in the "big time". Obviously Toms manager wants Tom to take the highest offer as the more Tom makes the more the Manager makes.

Very warm.

I can confirm that Rich has had an offer from GWS but has not yet made his mind up and that neither Morton or Bate have had offers from GWS. That rumour is BS. As far as Scully goes, my contact has no more idea than the rest of us. The MFC is very confident of keeping him but my contact considers the rumour to be too strong not to have some truth. Meaning Scully is most likely gone. This is not rumour and comes from someone who is involved.

Many of you here know that I am good friends with Juddy and as such I have heard much more about Fev than what has been writen in the media. Trust me we do not want Fev under any circumstances. Let some other sucker make this mistake.

With every day that passes, it becomes more certain Scully is gone. If he was staying he would indicate that he wished to remain at the MFC "subject to contract agreement" like so many other players. Sadly this is not the case. The only evidence that supports Scully staying is his word and in my opinion Scully had no choice but to lie and say that there had been no contact from GWS. (Does anyone really believe “no contact”). If he had said the truth , he would be hounded all season, whatever the case this year would be far harder for him than it would be denying contact. Even Gary Lyon (I think) said earlier in the season that the AFL allowing players to sign early with the new clubs was “forcing” players to lie. In my opinion Tom Scully is whom he was directly referring to. Honestly, I believe we are clutching at straws now. The evidence that Scully is going has become compelling. Scully will be offered 2 -3 fold what he could make at the Dees and quite frankly this is a massive reason why to leave. In any other job or any other sport we would not even be considering a possibility that he could stay. I am sure the MFC know he is going and are desperately trying to organise a “Visy” style deal in a long shot that they can somehow maintain him. It will very difficult to organise a large enough “Visy” type deal for a 20yo who has not won a Brownlow, Premiership or Norm Smith (AKA Judd) and does not yet have the media presence that all this plus a model wife brings. Its media presence that makes “Visy” type deals commercial for the company. As deeply disappointed as I am, I have no hard feelings towards Tom. Good luck to him and better luck to the MFC next time around.

Lets not ever forget that the Brisbane Lions lost Nathan Buckley after 2 seasons to Collingwood. It was obvious that Nathan Buckley was going to be a star is the same way it is obvious Scully will be. Nevertheless this did not stop Brisbane winning 3 Premierships back to back. All is not lost if Scully goes.

The point of a HOA is to set out the terms and conditions of your contact should you decide to take it. By Scully signing a HOA he is signing that he "intends" to move to GWS. I understand that Ablett signed a HOA in a similar manner, then thought he would renege and then changed his mind back to GC. Signing an "intention" at the beginning of the season has physiological weight in the decision making process. Scully would know exactly what he is to get should he go to GWS and this can be compared with Melbourne's offer.

Tom Scully must be feeling intense pressure. Seriously guys, if Tom Scully was staying at the Melbourne FC, he would have signed or at least indicated that he wished to play for Melbourne "subject to contract agreement". One simple announcement like this would ease the pressure immensely. The fact is he has not made this simple announcement that would get the heat off him and allow him to concentrate on his football is because he is going. The rumours have been strong for some time that he has signed with GWS and now wishes to change his mind. I have no idea whether this is true or not but I have heard this rumour over and over for at least a month. If he has signed a contract and changed his mind he should be able to get out of it (with some difficulty) and potentially cost. Standing up publically and straight out stating that you do not wish play for GWS and wish to play for MFC would go a long way in getting him out of such a contact. No football team wants a players (especially a marquee player) that does not want to play for them. If he has signed a heads of agreement he will be able to renege without any difficulty, heads of agreement are not binding. The evidence is mounting for Scully leaving, his word is the only evidence against leaving, all other evidence points to a coup for GWS. I have no expectations of him staying, I think the odds are low, but if he does I will be ecstatic as I think he is gone.

Getting Malthouse would be a turning point for Melbourne. Although he would cost plenty the cost will not be an issue. Malthouse would create genuine excitement if he came to the Dees, this in turn would guarantee a significant increase in memberships, and a better fixture which in turn makes the club more attractive to sponsors and allows Melbourne to demand higher sponsorship. In a similar way to which Chris Judd pays his salary via #5 gurnsey sales, and increased exposure for Carlton, Malthouse would go along way to paying his salary via increased exposure as well. Not only would we get the best coach in the competition we would also be able to start attracting uncontracted mature players that for the last 30 years have had little interest in playing for the Dees. With free agency coming this has never been more important. I have been a supporter of Bailey until last weekend. I have never been so appalled with a coaches game plan and tactics as I was last Friday. Bailey lost me in the first 5 minutes when he played 2 players behind the ball effectively waving the white flag. Our players would have gained nothing from that experience. We would have been better off if we were flogged by 10 goals but played an attacking brand of football. Bailey must go. Melbourne must put full effort into getting Malthouse.

So the broadcast deal has now been done. Yet we are not hearing that Scully has started negotiations with the club. The excuse that he will wait until the end of the season, backing himself to show outstanding form to up his value is wearing thin as in reality Scully will get a monster contract for his age, his form this season will now make little difference to his perceived value and next contract. This is starting to undermine the club. We all know that all that is required is for Scully or his manager to come out and say. "Tom wishes to continue his career with the MFC, subject to contract agreement." or something along these lines. Yet this is not happening. Personally I don't believe that GWS has not approach Tom or his manager. Of course they would have. At the very least they would have made an inquiry. The club is clearly very concerned that Tom is going otherwise they would not have put Stynes in to try and get an answer. Tom gave the line he has been told to by him manager. "No I have not been approached". It is a lie and means nothing. The evidence that Tom is leaving is becoming compelling. I think it is time we accepted this. It pains me to say this but looking at the evidence it would seem he is gone.

No way, Scully is the best prospect of a Melbourne player being a superstar since Allan Jackovich (who did not become one due to laziness, booze and girls). I don't rate Lyon as a superstar, the closest we have had in my life time is Flower but you can't become a super star if you play for a team that almost always finished in the bottom 3.

Weather forcast is cold and RAIN so having a much smaller team (1 ruckman v 3)could prove to be in our favour.

I would not panic about Scully. I once did exactly the same injury and unfortunently the only cure is rest. The problem with this injury is that after some rest your knee feels 100%...... that is until you go out and play at which time you re-injure yourself and you back 5 - 10 weeks. There is no way of telling until its too late, thats the problem. Scully is probably ready to go now, but the MFC is being very conservative making sure he is right. It was never going to be just 5 weeks. At some point they will play him. If he pulls up sore he will be sent for rest until January. I am certain GWS has nothing to do with this, and the word I am getting from the Connors Group (not his manager) is that he has not signed. Despite not being his manager I think it is likley they have a pretty good idea.

I think Juddy is the most complete player I have ever seen, I think he will win a third brownlow this year. He must already have 12+ votes as he would have polled in 5 of the first 6 rounds with three shoe in BOGS and one other likely. I put $100 on at $9.50 and barring injury, I expect I will win. I think he is the best player in the competition.

I have great faith in our current FD. They have had a great record of picking talent over the last few years. However, this Newton thing is something that I can't get my head around. Firstly it was a complete embarrassment that Newton was given an extension to his contract over Miller. As limited as Miller was he has and will always be a better player than Newton. The juice has embarrassed himself, the club and all those who play in it and support it with a almost unbelievable lack of skill and inept talent. To add to this at times he has shown poor attitude, yet he continues to survive on our list. I must say that bringing Newton into our team while we were tanking was a master stroke, but since we are now looking to win games I can't understand why we would pursue with this greatest of duds. Clearly the FD see's something I don't, clearly they see him as a chance to make contests in the goal square while relieving in the ruck. Personally I think our FD is dreaming. In 8 years he has never shown me anything that would suggest he has a future in AFL football, I mean nothing.

It is well documented and clear that GWS have got their eyes firmly on Scully and without doubt will be pursuing other Melbourne players most notably Watts if they fail with Scully. I also believe that 6 years for $6 Million is conceivable and most likely real. Sheedy knows the value of youth and Scully has shown he can take the pressure of being a number one draft pick as well as all the skills and poise to become a top 5 AFL player within a few short years. Unfortunately, no one let alone an 19yo can ignore this sort of offer and the chances of Scully leaving for the coin to GWS are very real, even probable. Personally I think we will struggle to keep him. I am not sure what we will get in compensation, I think 2 first round draft picks but who knows how early. Our compensation in theory should be more than for Abblett as we are losing more future benefit losing a 20yo than a 25yo (Abbett), and age is definitely in the compensation formula as is draft pick number. With a very young team and Jack Viney still to come, two very early first rounds picks (with possibly a number one) would be far from the disaster many make out. Nevertheless this is not good news. I also would not be surprised if Scully had already signed, though I think he probably has not. As for Watts, I have no fear of losing him. Whatever the case, there is absolutely nothing the average punter like myself can do about this. So let’s hope for the best and enjoy the footy.

I have it on very good authority for his x-coach, to inside our club and from a friend of mine involved with recruiting at the Adelaide FC that if the 2012 draft was today Jack Viney would be picked #1. We were always going to get Jack, nevertheless, this is awesome news.

Have we been watching different games? After a poor 2008, 2009 started badly for Dunn. In his defence he was used in virtually every roll imaginable, unable to settle. Dunn returned to form late 2009 and was a solid contributor for the second half of the season. Solid enough to secure a new two year contract. He then backed that up with strong but wasteful performances in the first half of this season. He was unluckily dropped "for poor goal kicking". Dunn came back 3 or 4 weeks later after kicking 11 for Casey. He then dominated the remainder of the season picking up Brownlow votes on two occasions. In my opinion he was our best player for the last quarter of the season. His form was simply outstanding. His goal kicking close to perfect in pressure situations. He was hard and tough and very influential. He has found his place as a permanent forward and I for one am excited about watching him next year. There is no way he is in the firing line. I expect him to sign a contract extension very early in the 2011 season to keep WS away.