GWS wait on Scully after making AFL pitch - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

GWS wait on Scully after making AFL pitch

By Rob Forsaith 07/09/2011 04:57:14 PM Comments (0)

Greater Western Sydney have made their final pitch to Melbourne's Tom Scully and it's now up to him, GWS list manager Stephen Silvagni says.

The AFL's 18th club unveiled their new signings, former Western Bulldogs midfielder Callan Ward and ex-Docker Rhys Palmer, on Wednesday.

Touted as likely GWS recruits throughout the season, Ward and Palmer claimed they only made the choice to join the Giants in the past week.

If Melbourne's Scully has done the same, he is keeping the Giants in the dark.

Silvagni says the Giants have courted Scully as much as they can and will now wait and see if the No.1 pick from the 2009 draft heads north.

"We've basically done our pitch, so it's up to him now," Silvagni told AAP.

"He's got to make a decision. We'd love to have him but that's his decision."

Scully is reportedly due to visit the Giants' facilities at Breakfast Point this week.

"I can't confirm that, because that's news to me," GWS chief executive Dale Holmes said.

"But if I believed everything that was written this year about who's coming and how much they're getting paid, our salary cap would be $20 million."

Holmes said the Giants wouldn't rush Scully into a decision on which club he wanted to play for in 2012.

"We're clear about what our offer was, that's for him to consider," Holmes said.

"Tom and Melbourne are obviously going through their discussions. Where that ends, I don't know.

"It's up to Tom to decide what he wants to do.

"I'm not sure how long that will take."

GWS coach Kevin Sheedy was confident his club would boast a strong midfield, even if Scully decides to stay with the Demons.

"We've got four or five boys (midfielders) training already that are very capable of playing league footy next year," Sheedy said.

"All of a sudden you're looking at about a dozen players in the midfield. If he's one of them, then so be it.

"He's a very good player and if he decides to come up here we'll be rapt.

"I've never met Tom Scully and I hope I do meet him."

Sheedy said Port Adelaide's Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan, who retired this season but are reportedly set to link up with former mentor Mark Williams at the Giants, would be welcome at the club.

"If they're capable of wanting to come up here and help build this team, then we'd be interested in those sorts of players," Sheedy said.

The arrival of Phil Davis, who announced mid-season he will be leaving Adelaide to join GWS, is expected to come this week.

Ward and Palmer thanked their former clubs for being co-operative and supportive.

Ward said money was "obviously a factor" that came into his decision to leave the Western Bulldogs but denied it was the only one.

Palmer was hoping to have greater opportunities after leaving Fremantle, and wanted to be away from the fishbowl experience in Western Australia where "everyone knows everyone".

Silvagni's pitch to the midfielders, and indeed all of the Giants' targets, was simple.

"If you have a look at Gold Coast, they're an exciting side and we're going to be an exciting side," he said.

"...When you go and speak to the players and the players' managers, you're speaking about what this team can possibly do in four to five years time."

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

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