hardtack

Watching this poll, I find it interesting to see that after all of the speculation, and virtual wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth over the potential loss of Scully, and how important he is to the club on it's path to the ultimate prize, he is polling a relatively low number of "votes"... does this mean that his star is yet to rise and many don't think he is likely to be a top 3 performer (despite the fact he was in the top 10 in his first year), or is this a backlash over a perceived defection?

From the article:

and rookie Kelvin Lawrence, another West Australian Davey believes could play senior football this year.

Hope we get to see him go around next week.

My worry with Green is that when he eventually starts to decline, it will be fast (hopefully not until 2012 at least).

On what do you base that comment? Green is a tough hard at it player who suffers no chronic injuries and is not prone to hammy injuries etc, so I can see him going for as long as his body stands up to the rigors of the game; he could easily be leading the club for the next 4 seasons.

That was the only game I saw that year (as I live in NZ)

Here was my response then.

That comeback still gives me goose bumps.

I just like then, we all still want to know who your grandfather was ;-)

Scully

Jones

Davey

so.... are we sure about this? Doesn't it seem weird to anyone else, I thought we are supposed to be getting warmed up not having a rest after 2 games

No weirder than the shortened format. They can still practice on the off week, so it doesn't really matter that much at this stage of the proceedings. And if you are still not sure, I suggest you try visiting the AFL web site and following the appropriate links to the NAB Cup info.

Jurrah to play out the full 22 rounds and boot 60+ goals - ah what the hell... also want him to win the Coleman AND mark of the year AND goal of the year.

I have posted the following using the "Write something..." box on the AFL's facebook page. I would suggest that as many as possible do the same, in order to get the message across (who cares if it gets bagged by supporters of other clubs):

blah blah blah

The AFL has since posted a response to my comment (see cited topic towards the top of the previous page) inviting comment; it's on the AFL + other part of their Wall on Facebook:

"Here is the article Tim is not happy about: http://afl.to/fY9bXp What do others think? One point that should be made, Tim, is that Jason's views are his own. He wasn't commissioned or pressured by the AFL to write the piece."

Please feel free to go and add your comments to the topic.

But to suggest that an opinion piece on the AFL site - a site which has been running op-ed pieces of various colour for years - is proof positive that the league is out to ensure Scully moves to GWS is downright ridiculous and paranoid.

I'm certainly not saying that... I'm saying that it is an opinion piece that is attempting to deflect the blame away from the AFL for their screw-up; if it had appeared in the mainstream press or anywhere other than the AFL's official website, then it might be acceptable.

It's just that many Melbourne supporters won't agree with this one, so all of a sudden IT'S AN AFL CONSPIRACY! Guess what? It's not. Some of us need to get a grip on reality and take the tinfoil hats off.

Well, I for one do not consider it to be some sort of conspiracy... however, it twists the truth and appears to be an attempt to shift the blame away from the AFL and let's face it, this was a mighty screw-up that allows these clubs access to recently drafted priority picks (and it's not just our club that has been placed in this position).

I have posted the following using the "Write something..." box on the AFL's facebook page. I would suggest that as many as possible do the same, in order to get the message across (who cares if it gets bagged by supporters of other clubs):

How long has the AFL been editorialising on their website? Jason Phelan's piece on Scully is a reprehensible display of the AFL attempting to deflect the problem of their own causing back onto the MFC. The White reference is a straw man as, if I recall correctly, there was a rather expensive trade involved.

Yes there has been an over the top response from many MFC supporters... but what do you expect from the long suffering supporters of a club who is finally looking like they may a shot at the prize in the next two or three years after so long in the wilderness, and now have to face the reality that they could lose a recent priority picked player courtesy of a massive AFL screw-up. At least the club and its president Jimmy Stynes are handling it with dignity... which is much more than can be said of the AFL. Shameful!

Crappy ground, but another chance of exposure to a ground we traditionally struggle playing on. We all know that we can kill it at the G, but i love that we're playing pre season games at grounds we usually drop games on. Can only be a good thing for the younger players.

Also, after putting to rest one hoodoo in AAMI Stadium, we now have a chance to lay to rest another with our poor form at Etihad; if we can get through these tests, even if we don't make the final, at least we will be going into season 2011 confident in the knowledge that they can win anywhere.

Although Eddy is good at peddling "snake oil" I don't think he would stick his credibility out that far without some substance behind it.

What credibility?

I'm very excited as I'm looking forward to seeing the new recruits going around and to see how Strauss and Blease go. I'm also a little excited about the Sydney/GWS/GC round as it will be interesting to see where those teams are at... I hope Scully is watching as it may help to give him some sort of perspective as to where he would sit in a side like GWS (that is, bottom of the ladder).

was a quote from the song/movie

Speaking of which, Samsara was quite a good movie as I recall :-)

You have to remember this is a Dees forum. Some around here consider the west of Melbourne a wasteland despite the fact they rarely if ever cross the Yarra

Ha ha... don't worry, being an ex-Melbournian I do have an understanding of the geography there; demographics maybe a different story as its been a few decades since I lived there and I understand many suburbs (eg, Altona and Yarraville) have become rather gentrified) - I was a Croydon boy.

I have been an insider in marketing/strategy in major corporations and PR for 30 years. I know how these guys work.

Then I would expect your comprehension to be a little better; your entire "clutching at straws..." discussion emanated from a couple of comments that simply related to an error in your reporting of the comments made on the Footy 360 show.

Eddie is not a senior journalist for nothing. It is one thing to go to the Gold Coast, or Tasmania, or Perth, or even Sydney Eastern suburbs. But Maguire has neatly captured (albeit in terms bordering on racism) what remain GWS's biggest challenge. Western Sydney is full of rugby league loving boguns and frankly not a very pleasant place to either work or live, let alone both. Far western Sydney where GWS is head-quartered is a wasteland and it is not by accident that this is where the Cronulla riots emanated from.

And herein lies the another problem... the likes of Eddie Everywhere and many posters simply do not know the geography and associated demographics of Sydney.

For DeesPower's benefit, the Cronulla riots emanated IN Cronulla (the original assault was on the beach) and the groups of middle eastern people who attended were said to be from the Bankstown area, NOT Blacktown. They are two very different areas both demographically and geographically. I think Eddie is making the same error... it is the south-west of Sydney that has a large middle-eastern population, not the far west. If Eddie knew anything about Blacktown and surrounding areas, he would probably change his reference from falafel to hangi as there are probably far more islanders than people of middle eastern extraction in that part of Sydney. Additionally, it is hardly a wasteland as the bulk of Sydney's population is located in the western suburbs spreading from Parramatta to Penrith, with the south-west seeing a lot of new housing development and also growing quite rapidly.

Anyway, regardless of all of that, it was a particularly ill-considered comment and one that will hopefully come back to bite him in a big way.

I think you guys are "clutching at straws".

Huh?? I was merely pointing out an error in your comment that ALL presenters on the show were convinced he had signed.

Not only did all the experts agree that Tom Scully has already signed with West Sydney...

Not entirely true... Mark Robinson (I think it was) said that he believed Scully will stay at the Dees.

I find it amusing how there are so many posters willing to believe the words of a football player manager.

Not half as amusing as those who are prepared to believe the rumours being put out by the likes of Eddie Everywhere.

Thanks for the report.

Good to hear they're getting a spray.

Yeah, perhaps this is an indication that Bailey is making a concerted effort to take home the NAB Cup silverware?

I'd like to see no more comment on this matter- just shows how bored are we. Comment: Whatever happens will happen. If he goes, or Grimes goes or whomever goes will just create more opportnities for others and we will gain further quality picks. RIP till end of season-I say.And let the team play on their merits for this season.Mods close the thread.

maybe you should have transposed the first and second sentences? ;-)

Anyway, if Scully is going to go, I have to admit that I would rather see him go to somewhere like GWS where he will have little impact on the competition for a few years (I believe we have the depth to cover his potential loss)... and that is probably one of the reasons I believe he will not be going anywhere, his chances of footballing success and the opportunity to increase his value are far greater where he is now; in four years time, $6mil will seem like small change.

I am expecting us to put up a good showing. In some ways (and this is probably at odds with many's thoughts) I feel that playing the two games without the break could be advantageous to us, especially if we do well against the Crows in the first game, because we will be able to carry that momentum into the Port game - I don't think Port will be much of an obstacle regardless.

I also believe that if we do progress to the second round, then we will see a surge in memberships (albeit small) - the reason we broke the record last year was because after round 1 of the season proper, we started to show what was coming with this team... a good quick start this year will reinforce that belief and hopefully attract a lot more members - we mustn't give the impression that we have gone backwards, and winning against both the Crows AND Port on their home turf, will convert many disbelievers.

Money talks. It always has and always will. If someone offered me hundreds of thousands more a year, that could go to my family... or to my ouse extensions... I'd take it. Pure and simple. We can hope Scully will be loyal, and dignified, and in some ways he will be, regardless of what road he takes... but I can't hate the kid for taking a huge paycheck. The truth is sooner or later we will start to lose players...

I would like to think that Scully's management is a little more astute than many give them credit for and see that a couple of good seasons at the Dees that see us playing finals, can only add to Scully's reputation and value further down the track.

A quick grab for $6 mil now will see him most likely languishing in a team that will be going nowhere for at least 3 or 4 seasons to the point where his value will go south - maybe that's not such an issue when you are as far into your career as Ablett was, but for someone just starting out it is necessary to be a little more far-sighted.

Stuff the torp! Bring back the drop kick! (LOL)

Who remembers the days when Danny Hughes used to kick in after a point was scored? He would consistently send the ball into the centre of the ground with those long, raking drop kicks! Think he was just about the last exponent of the drop kick.

Ah! Memories!

Drop kick? ...what about the stab pass? Now THAT'S what I want to see!