FIND out what’s being said about the club in the major daily newspapers on Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Herald Sun

Third-party deals to trump Greater Western Sydney offer for Tom Scully
By Jon Ralph

THIRD-party payments that lured Chris Judd to Carlton could keep Tom Scully at Melbourne for the next five seasons. Legal payments outside the salary cap under a five-year deal could prove a critical element in the Demons retaining Scully. It has been confirmed they have been offered to Scully and would help top up the $3 million deal. While nowhere near the same scale as Judd's Visy deal, the extra payments could prove crucial to the 20-year-old's deal. It is illegal under AFL rules for Melbourne to organise those third-party payments, but the Demons are aware Scully has been offered them by businesses that hope he will stay in Victoria rather than join Greater Western Sydney. Just as Judd was offered six years by Carlton, it is known GWS could be prepared to expand its $1 million-a-year offer to that lengthy term. The Demons have made their final five-year pitch and the $2 million gap on the GWS offer has emerged as the price of loyalty. Demons boss Cameron Schwab and coach Dean Bailey are united behind their man and believe Scully will stay. Schwab said Scully had been "vindicated" by the GWS offer, which proved he had not already signed on with the AFL's 18th club. "We don't talk about contract discussions, but we are more than happy to talk about the integrity of (Scully) and if nothing else this has shown him to be that," Schwab said. "A lot of things have been said about him - what is supposed to have happened versus what he is saying has, and I think he has been vindicated." The Demons also have been able to placate a playing list now aware Scully will be paid as much as $600,000 a season.

North Melbourne forward Drew Petrie says pressure on young targets unfair
By Jay Clark

DREW Petrie says the AFL's start-up concessions put unfair pressure on young stars such as Melbourne's Tom Scully. The North Melbourne veteran said he felt sorry for Scully, who must decide between loyalty and Greater Western Sydney riches. The Giants, who have offered Scully about $1 million a season, indicated yesterday they had commitments from as many as four uncontracted players. As Melbourne clings to hope Scully will stay, Petrie yesterday took an indirect swipe at the rules that allow GWS to target a 20-year-old. "He's got a massive decision to make. Yeah, I do feel sorry for him," Petrie said. "It's kind of unfair in his second year of footy that he's not allowed just to play footy. "You would feel some sort of loyalty to the club that gave you the opportunity in the beginning and to those teammates who helped you through those first couple of years." Scully, Western Bulldog Callan Ward, Fremantle's Rhys Palmer and Adelaide forward Taylor Walker are all on the Giants' hit list.

The Age

Melbourne should cut its losses and let young gun go
By Martin Blake

Melbourne should let Tom Scully go and move on. There comes a point when you cut your losses. In this case, take your first-round picks - at least one, and hopefully two - that you get as compensation, and start again. Why? Because at the money touted as having been flashed in Scully's face by Greater Western Sydney - $1 million a year over five seasons - Melbourne runs the risk of decimating its club by trying to match up. The Demons have put their best offer, and that should be that. The supporters would understand if it does not hold the midfielder, who finds himself in a bitter-sweet situation, with an opportunity to set himself up for life, albeit meaning he has to leave his first club.


Scully worth an Ablett: AFL
By Michael Gleeson and Caroline Wilson

MELBOURNE would definitely be entitled to Gary Ablett-level special compensation were Tom Scully to accept Greater Western Sydney's written offer to join it on a lucrative, five-year deal, AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson confirmed yesterday. Based on Scully's age, the size of his contract offer and his status as a No. 1 draft pick, Melbourne would qualify for exceptional compensation if he accepted the offer, believed to be worth close to $1 million a year for five years. The Demons would get two first-round draft picks, which could be used in any draft over the next five years, just as Geelong earned for losing Ablett.

The Australian

Giants say Scully worth $1m a year
By Peter Kogoy

GREATER Western Sydney Giants yesterday confirmed they had made a $1 million-a-season offer for off-contract Melbourne star Tom Scully. While GWS chief executive Dale Holmes said last night AFL policy stopped him from speaking publicly on the specifics, he didn't deny the story of the seven-figure offer tabled this week. If Scully accepts the Giants' offer, he will join rugby league convert Israel Folau on millionaire's row at Blacktown next season. "Scully is a player we are definitely keen on, he's off contract at the Demons at the end of the year and as such he's a quality player," Holmes said. "We as a club are abiding by the AFL recruiting rules. We've not broken any rule. "We can't speak to any off-contract player directly, but we can approach his management." Scully's manager, Peter Blucher, said the Melbourne club had made an updated offer to keep Scully at the Demons 10 days ago. "It was a terrific offer, but in the best interests of my client, I went back to GWS," Blucher said. "They came back with a substantial counter-offer." Scully, 20, is in his second season of AFL football, having been taken by the Demons at No 1 in the 2009 draft.