John Crow Batty

I'm sorry you feel that way

Does not mean he has not signed any other legally binding agreement that would see him play for GWS next season.

Well I would like Tom to say via a simple personal statement and not through his manager, I have not discussed or made an agreement with GWS or any of their affiliates or proxies to play with them in 2012. I will only enter contract negotiations at seasons end. In the meantime I will play with a 100% effort and commitment for Melbourne and looking forward to fruitful contract negotiations at the end of the season. If Tom had something to say in this vein I am sure the club will stick his gob in front of every mike in the country. Sadly I think we are past anything like this being said. I hope this matter will come to a head before the season proper starts.

Why?

Going by the standard of general goal kicking by all teams on Saturday night there is nothing to indicate that they would have done better with more regulation attempts. These guys play on instinct, innate flair and usually deliver. Their quickness of thinking gives them their edge. But they can't hit them all.

I believe if the worst happens with Tom, it will not mess about with our destiny. It doesn't take an astrologer to see all the stars are aligning against him staying with us. Nothing has been said to indicate these rumours may be spurious. As has been pointed out, other high profile potential GWS targets have been quick to show their allegiances. Tom has not. Supporters cling to the hope that he has some love for the club as a justification he may stay. He has not shown it as yet. If Tom does not wan't to play with us then so be it. We will forge ahead with our destiny. If our wealth of talent will be realised within the next few seasons then we will have make some painful sacrifices along the way. To echo the sentiments of Belzebub59. If we pay Tom close to what is rumoured by GWS, how can we hope to keep all the likes of Watts, Trengrove, Jurrah, Frawley or others if they realise their own potential? Some will have to go.

He's doing a good job avoiding the reporters.

The louder the jungle drums beat the more likely they seem to be true. We may have to tune into 3AW more often to see if we can glean some clues to whats happening.

Eloquent post but I hope it doesn't turn out to be a plea of desperation.

Saw the replay this afternoon. Points I note. Fast skilled ball movement from back line to forward line. Positive ball movement from kick outs. Excellent inside 50 conversion efficiency. Forwards always looked dangerous. Still getting beaten at too many stoppages. Missed Frawley. Not enough defensive tall presence. Too many marks allowed inside defensive 50. I suspect this draw was scripted with the expectation that both Adelaide's would beat us as a prologue for their mini derby.

I prefer we yell out "SIGN!"

The statement that came from his manager is completely meaningless. All legal speak stalling tactics loaded with carefully chosen words that say nothing that can bite them back when he does go north. That makes it even more worrying and I hope I am wrong. If he said Tom has not signed an AFL contract with GWS nor have we spoken to them and also we have not spoken to or signed an agreement with other 3rd party affiliates linked to GWS then I would be comfortable in believing the line that Tom won't entertain contract discussions till the end of the season. My gut feeling says Tom is GONE!

It's good for Watts to slip under the radar too. Must be relief to him the monkey is off his back and he looked better for it.

I was annoyed, missed most of the game because I had to deal with an emergency. Caught only the last 4 minutes of the Port game. All I saw was us dominating. Numbers to the ball and Jurrah's goal. The pleasing thing was us doing so well at a horror venue, at nigh and in not ideal conditions after a week of distractions. As I said in another thread I was pleased we had our first hit out in a somewhat backs to the wall game even though there was overtly little to gain. I have complete faith we will improve this year and the recent injuries and drama's gave me a positive feeling that this would not stop us living up to expectations. A taste of things to come but now we have to see this level of play in real premiership points games.

Not very excited but I am keen have a first look on how the players have developed over the off season. Players of interest to me are Bennell, Dunn and all of the fringe players.

Yes, he must be physically bullet proof and iron willed. No need to take the fat contract now that might affect his focus on the football. Seems to be his only weakness at the moment. Nothing will stand in his way to resign for us at the end of the season. Knee soreness not withstanding.

Clauses can easily be written into a contract now to accommodate the Salary Cap and Free Agency issue to ensure he is not disadvantaged by them when and if they eventuate. No need to wait. Some other posters have already mentioned this.

Well Collingwood might not want Dale anymore if they had to pay over what they think he is worth. But I agree with your sentiment. I like to to see Tom come out and say he will play on with us next season. Will make us at ease but does not make sense because he will be exposed to possible injuries and poor form diminishing his value if waits till post season to sign. But he won't because IMO he has already signed some sort of agreement with GWS though not an official AFL contract as his manager says. Rumours that turn out to be untrue usually never grow two heads like this one has. They float around for a while but loose traction, if they don't get debunked early the media eventually loses interest and they eventually fade away. I am sure the club now is already revising their future plans to accommodate a likely Scully exit.

And he being a proud Broady boy I would expect him to be sensitive about making those jibes. Never stops talking about his roots. Lots of falafel shops in Broadmeadows and his brother is trying to woo votes there. Bad slip of the tongue.

I think Tom's being being milked as a cash cow. All his management are thinking is the big bucks. Now they are going to continue to mess with his head for next 6 the months if he hasn't been locked in already with GWS. In that case Tom is going to have a very difficult year.

Suburban pokie venues are soulless mausoleums where one goes to get euthanised. How can anyone have a good time when it's populated by only the lonely doing their dough and all you hear is PING, PING, PONGO. The club should get out of the business or get a venue back to where the soul of the club resides that is the inner city, close to the MCG and near a tram and train line. And offer attractions that attract real supporters and not just suburban losers. I've lived in the Melbourne area most of my life and don't even know where Bentleigh is and never been to that other place Leighoak nor do I want to.

I agree we have been over hyped but recent events such as Frawley's and Morton's injuries and the Scully controversy will have brought us back to earth before the season starts. I think it is good that we are starting our campaign backs to the wall to some extent rather than feeling warm and fuzzy as a result of being flattered by months of ego massaging. I'm starting to feel more confidant we will do well in Adelaide than I was a week ago.

I'd feel more comfortable if he were there with the rest of the team even if injured. Will send a positive message.

Bomber didn't go hard enough. Weak effort by him. Instead of doing necessary drastic surgery when he didn't get a commitment he just decided just not to speak to him. Couldn't bear the pain so in the end no gain. Tough for him because Gary was an entrenched bona fide champ but it would be easier for Bailey as Tom is still a developing player who's real worth is yet to be detirmined.

I wonder how the El Presidente chess champ managed to fool all the club bosses into agreeing to the GWS recruiting terms. Did he ply them with champagne, party girls and other enhancers? Checkmate!