FIND out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Herald Sun

Greater Western Sydney tables $1m offer for Tom Scully
By Mike Sheahan, Jay Clark
THE Tom Scully puzzle has deepened with the revelation Greater Western Sydney has made a formal offer to the Melbourne midfielder. Scully's management group, Velocity Sports, has confirmed the offer, believed to be as much as $1 million a year for five years. And today, Giants chief executive Dale Holmes indicated the club had already sought commitment from three or four players. Neither Velocity's Peter Blucher nor GWS's head of football Graham Allan would discuss the money or the term of the contract. Blucher told the Herald Sun: "Melbourne upped the ante significantly a couple of weeks ago and we invited them (GWS) to put something in writing to us, which they've done. We haven't told Tom what it is only that it's substantial and it warrants due consideration. You couldn't accept one (offer) without at least knowing what the other one was," Blucher said. The latest development suggests the youngster's future remains in the balance, despite a broad view in football he already is committed to the new franchise from 2012. Melbourne, though, will be heartened by the news, given it recently made him an offer, believed to be in the order of $3 million for five years.

Melbourne to acclimatise to Darwin heat for Port Adelaide clash
By Jon Ralph
MELBOURNE is determined to learn from Richmond's shock Darwin loss when it plays Port Adelaide there on Saturday night. The Demons have been forced to sell their home game to the Northern Territory but will take all precautions to equip themselves for the conditions. They will train twice at the venue before Saturday, with players encouraged to wear sweatbands and gloves to reduce the effects of sweat. On May 28 the Tigers totally failed to deal with the conditions against a Port Adelaide side that had played at the Darwin venue seven times, losing 74-89. Richmond this Saturday sells its second home game of the season, playing Gold Coast in Cairns. Melbourne coach Dean Bailey is considering playing Darwin boy Aaron Davey, labelling him a 50-50 chance to return from a knee injury. But he says preparation will be just as important as personnel, with the Demons having played at the venue only once for a one-point win over the Power last year. "It will be good to get another training session up in Darwin. It's really important for us to get a run up there, and get used to the conditions," Bailey said. "They are different conditions, as you saw with the Richmond game. It will be very slippery so we need to be well prepared, whether it's wearing gloves and wristbands to prevent the sweat running on our hands." Bailey yesterday backed Liam Jurrah to return to form in Darwin, saying he had simply experienced the same peaks and troughs any young player endured. "I am sure he's going to put on a good show."

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey confident Aussie Wonaeamirri will return
By Jon Ralph
MELBOURNE is becoming increasingly confident Aussie Wonaeamirri could return to the club in the near future. The Demons will fly to Darwin in Thursday, with Wonaeamirri still at home there with family after the passing of his father and close relative Maurice Rioli. Some at the club had lost hope he might return but coach Dean Bailey said today that in recent phone calls with Wonaeamirri he had become more hopeful he might return. He said the goalsneak would be unlikely to play seniors this year if he returned, but was still welcome at the club. "As the game has got closer I think he's finding the opportunity to come back and play AFL footy stronger and stronger. We need to get in front of him. He seems to be in a pretty good place so hopefully it's a good opportunity for us to convince him there is a really good opportunity for him back at Melbourne,'' Bailey said.