TOM SCULLY says he's determined to deliver consistent performances for Greater Western Sydney as the Giants seek to stamp themselves as genuine finals contenders.
GWS coach Leon Cameron leapt to Scully's defence last December to debunk perceptions the high-priced midfielder is overpaid, declaring he had never seen a harder two-way runner.
But as Scully enters his sixth AFL season, the No.1 pick from the 2009 NAB AFL Draft has put the onus on himself to keep improving.
Scully, who is halfway through a reported six-year, $6 million mega-deal which lured him from Melbourne, was often deployed as a tagger last season and averaged nearly 20 disposals from 15 games.
A knee injury cut his year short and delayed his start to pre-season, but he's since returned in top shape.
He won the 3km time trial after Christmas and – after being announced as vice-captain for a third-straight year – says he has full confidence his body can stand up to the rigours of a full season.
"My fitness is feeling as good as ever. I feel like I'm running well and my strength has improved as well," Scully told AFL.com.au.
"I feel I'm at a stage now, coming into my sixth year, my body's used to it so it's a matter of me playing consistent football."
Scully's big engine has seen him run with some of the game's elite on-ballers, but co-captain Callan Ward said his deputy can be "lethal" around goals and could be destined for a more attacking role.
Star recruit Ryan Griffen is likely to attract the opposition's best stopper next season, which should offer Scully and GWS' other midfielders the chance to get off the leash.
"In the first couple of years Callan has been the real leader in there but we haven't had experience," Scully said.
"So to get a guy like Ryan Griffen in … is really going to help take a lot of the brunt away from guys like Callan and a few of the younger guys – including myself.
"I think it's certainly going to help my football having a guy like him around."
The Giants won six games last season and have mapped out their plan to play finals by 2016.
For that to happen, Scully, who said he has "grown into" the vice-captaincy, believes the next generation of leaders needed to drive the improvement.
"We've got guys coming up, the likes of Dylan Shiel, Devon Smith, Adam Treloar who are coming into their fourth years of senior footy, who are stepping up their leadership capabilities," he said.
"The key thing for our group is that a lot of the guys coming into their fourth year – those guys I mentioned – plus a number of others for them to take a big step in leadership.
"It's certainly going to be a big factor in how we go this season."
Playing finals hasn't been a realistic goal at any stage of Scully's career to date, with only 19 wins to his credit from 86 games.
Alongside ex-Demons teammate Col Garland, Scully shares the unwanted record of the worst winning percentage (22 per cent) among current players who have played at least as many matches.
It's stark contrast to one of Scully's draft peers - Mitch Duncan (pick 28), whose Geelong career has been littered with success, which includes the 2011 premiership among 76 wins from 100 games.
But Scully believes GWS is on a fast-track to becoming a finals threat and said the Giants haven't put a ceiling on what they could achieve in 2015.
"It's very dangerous to put numbers and figures on things this year but we're not going to shy away from the fact we'd love to play finals footy," he said.
"We'd be kidding ourselves if we didn’t give ourselves a chance."
I must improve, admits Tom Scully
Tom Scully says young leaders must drive Giants' improvement
