The outcome was as predictable as a promise made by an opposition leader being broken when sitting in the prime minister’s chair.
Gary Ablett thrashed Tom Scully at Metricon Stadium.
That’s not new. Ablett beats everyone and seems headed for a third Brownlow Medal.
The next level is near, says excited McKenna
But there were instances in the Gold Coast-GWS match which must be of serious concern for Giants officials, even the AFL, which backed Scully’s controversial departure from Melbourne at the end of 2011.
That Scully is being used as a tagger doesn’t say a lot about his standing at GWS and there were times on Saturday where he looked lost.
Other Giants midfielders on contracts several hundreds of thousands of dollars in arrears of Scully have become the players coach Leon Cameron uses to generate play.
Don’t for a minute feel that comparing Scully’s output with Ablett’s is unfair on the younger player.
Scully’s wage is similar, and his $6 million deal over six years might actually see him earning more than Ablett in 2014, given Ablett’s wage has been sliding since receiving massive dollars up-front upon leaving Geelong after the 2010 season.
It’s not just the dollars which compel us to compare Scully with Ablett.
The Cats received from the AFL two first round national draft selections for losing Ablett to Gold Coast. The Demons received the same compensation when Scully exited.
Ablett was coming off an incredibly lofty base when he played his first match for the Suns in 2011, and even at nearly 30 (he will turn 30 on May 14), Ablett is getting better.
Scully, the No.1 pick overall in the 2009 national draft, was coming off a low base when he debuted for the Giants, and has done nothing to suggest he will soon begin to impact matches in a manner befitting a player who is receiving the biggest pay packet in the game.
It is obviously an inexact science, but one could argue Scully wouldn’t get a regular game for at least four clubs, maybe more.
In 2014, he is averaging 19 disposals, 4.2 clearances, 5 tackles, 3.8 inside-50s.
Disposals aren’t everything, but his best output on kicks and handballs this year was 23, in round two against St Kilda, and even that day, seven players on Etihad Stadium got more of the footy than Scully.
Ablett in 2014 averages 30 disposals, 8.5 clearances, 6.7 tackles and 4.7 inside-50s.
By Scully’s standards, Ablett is being severely underpaid.
Twitter: @barrettdamian
