Jaded No More

Unfortunately we are still a joke. Nobody is playing well today. We are getting smashed in contested possessions, not surprisingly Rivers is rubbish on a quick opponent and our game plan is crumbling. Pathetic. Infuriating. Rubbish.

Of everyone in the leadership group*, he and Jones have been our most consistent this year. Both have actually stepped up this year. *excluding poor Grimsey, the cursed child!

I don't think Garland and Warnock are similar, and hence you couldn't cover one with the other. Warnock played when Rivers was out injured. It made sense. Garland takes the most mobile, quickest tall in the team, a player that would kill both Rivers and Warnock. There is merit in keeping him as depth, but I doubt he wants to play out the majority of his career with Casey, and given how nicely Tom McDonland is coming along, I think the club will trade him for a win-win deal. He'd get a game in plenty of defences. FFS Karmichael Hunt is getting a game in an AFL backline! As for Bate and Dunn, I think after 7 years on the list, they, along with Newton, should be looking elsewhere. Bate definitely has the highest currency of the lot, but given we have to clear out at least 3 players from the list at the end of the year, I'd be pretty surprised if all three survives the cull. At least 2 will go. My bet is that Dunn will stay, and Bate (traded) and Newton (delisted/rookied elsewhere) will go. Morton and Petterd are laughable suggestions btw. Petterd's worth would be minimal, and given we just signed him last year, I doubt he'd be going anywhere, and Morton was a top 5 pick 3 years ago. He has to do a lot wrong for the club to consider trading him, and so far, he hasn't.

VISY doesn't run out of cash mid season.

Maybe he's also waiting to see who else GWS can attract? Doubt he'd want to go there, regardless of how good the money is, if he thinks he'll be playing out his career with D grade amateurs from the Western Sydney League and Brendan Fevola. There is a limit to how much he'd be willing to [censored] himself I'd assume. I think whether they sign a star or two along the way, they will still have plenty of money to hand over and plenty to trump our offer with, so I don't think that would be a major concern. And besides, maybe he wasn't on their radar last season when they thought they could grab a Pendelbury or a Swan or a Thomas or a Murphy. As much as I think Scully will be a gun, he hasn't proven himself beyond doubt and he has had some injury concerns. GWS would be stupid to put all of their money into his basket, especially given that he isn't a marquee name yet. I doubt anyone in Western Sydney even knows who he is!

Everyone will be delighted if he stays, absolutely, but it's human nature to try and not get attached to people who you don't think are going to stick by you. It's an automatic reaction for most to think "better not get too excited about him, because it'll only hurt more when he's gone". It's very much like if you've had a run of bad relationships, you find it hard to trust new ones. It's a normal defense mechanism and I understand why some supporters have chosen to believe beyond doubt that he's gone. Always better to be pleasantly surprised, than hope for the best and have that hope ripped away from you. Of course the media speculation doesn't always turn out to be true, but when you hear over and over again "he's gone", and the only people who are saying otherwise are those with vested interest in our club who may well be wishfully thinking he'll stay, it's hard to remain upbeat about the situation. Bottom line is, while I don't believe Scully has already signed or agreed to terms with GWS, I think that him not signing with Melbourne says enough to suggest that he knows he won't be able to resist the offer coming from GWS at season's end. And fair enough, that's a lot of money to turn down, even if the chances of him winning a premiership at Melbourne are greater.

As much as I refuse to buy into the rumours and the mind games, I have to say that it would not surprise or shock me to see us get screwed over. Again. MFCSS is high in what I'm about to say, but here goes... When you get constantly let down, when you have been accustomed to disappointments and failures, you become almost oblivious to the pain that goes along with it. If you've been treated like crap enough times, it eventually becomes second nature to you. If Scully leaves I'll be gutted, but I'll get over it, as will the rest of the club and its supporters, because we've been through heartache and disappointment before, and we are still here after 151 years. I'd rather spend my energy enjoying the development of players that I know are loyal and keen to stay at this club, and worry about those who might have their sights set elsewhere later.

Sheedy is happy to give me $4. He really values my leadership skills. Screw loyalty I'm off

Good luck trying to get the AFL to agree to anything that disadvantages GWS. Won't happen. Pisses me off that our own CEO supported this rubbish when clubs were being questioned about draft picks and compensation levels for GC/GWS!

$500,000 is a lot of money! And it comes down to thinking "well I'm worth that much to one company, so I should be worth that much to my own company". I get what you're saying, and clearly Scully isn't choosing between a life of wealth and a life of welfare payments, but in reality you'd think that he'd be looking at $1m vs. $600,000 maybe. I want him to stay but I also don't want our club to pay him so much that down the track we'll have to lose other quality players. There has to be a balance. GWS don't have those issues so they can afford to throw buckets of money at players. It's impossible to compete. P.S.- I wish someone offered me $1.5 for my services!

What a disgusting situation the AFL has created. They are basically putting players in a situation where they have to decide between loyalty to their clubs, teammates and even family, or $2m. As much as I want Scully to stay, if I was offered $2m to go work for a rival company interstate I'd be on that plane quicker than I could say "hell yes". The AFL should be ashamed of themselves for having created this monster. I understand that new clubs need to be supportered, and you can't just throw them into a competition with a rubbish side, but to lure players away on the premise of money and not desire, goes against what the AFL should be about, and is also extremely unfair on established clubs who have worked hard to get themselves into a good position with their own lists. Why should we lose Scully after 2 years? Do we need him less? Are we not entitled to hold onto our best players? It's just stupid. It's different when you're talking about senior established players, but kids in the second or third years of their career shouldn't be put in these situations. Pathetic!

The AFL investigated the Judd-Visy deal, and found it was within the rules. That is what I mean by precedence.

We have plenty of supporters in high places, so I hope you are correct. Perhaps part of the reason Tom hasn't signed is because we are yet to give him an offer, as we are working on putting together an attractive package for him? Please oh please let this club have the balls to follow Carlton's lead and get this kid a contract that his management will be happy for him to sign. AFL can't touch us on grounds of Judd precedence.

I swear to god, he better not get off on a rubbish technicality like wording

Well done Gysberts. Thoroughly deserved. What a gun this kid will be!

No chance. If Tappy is fit, straight back into the side. Was one of our best and most consistent pre-injury and his kicking is extremely important, especially on the wide spaces of the G'. In: Tapscott, Bartram Out: Evans, Jetta

The AFL's treatment of Chris Judd makes me want to projectile vomit. It's as if everyone has one set of rules, and Judd has his own set of special rules. Dirty eye gouger can do no wrong. Disgusting! Good news re: Thomas. I think the penalty is reasonable for the level of offense, but is obviously an utter joke compared to Trengove's penalty for a far less deliberate/out-of-play incident.

So the two times these 4 have all played together we, drew with the premiers and beat the Bombers with some of our best players out injured, including Jamar. Lloyd, who is a massive toolbag, admitted on radio this morning that this is as good a young midfield as any going around. However, the key to our success is firstly keeping these guys healthy and continously pushing them to better themselves, and secondly, keeping them together. Keeping Scully at Melbourne has to be one of our most important tasks this year.

Incredible effort given he's missed 3 games. GUN!

Sounds like Sylvia will be alright. Few players miss games, especially after a 10 day break, with a corky. Although knowing our luck he'll probably be out for 4-6

Agreed. I think Evans is going to be a bit stiff, but Bartram has to play if fit. We need him down back. Otherwise I would make very little changes, unless of course Jamar or Tappy make miraculous recoveries.

How's Blease doing in the second half?

Daisy Thomas could be in a bit of trouble. Smacked his opponent in the face. Of course wearing a Collingwood jumper means his opponent will get suspend on grounds of having a face

F*$% THE HATERS!

Apparently post match they asked Jordie Mac what he was thinking when Gawn took the mark and was going for goal, and JMac said "I ran to my kick -in position". LOL!