Scully ‘up to it’

By Paul Pickering
ONE may be the loneliest number, but AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan has no doubt that Tom Scully can handle it.
Sheehan, the AFL draft guru, last week scoffed at suggestions that the Berwick teenager might need to be shielded from the weight of expectation that accompanied the tag of “No.1 draft pick”.
There has been speculation that Melbourne, which holds the first two picks in next week’s draft, will choose South Australian midfielder Jack Trengove with its top pick, despite Scully’s largely undisputed status as the best prospect in the 2009 crop.
Reports suggest the Demons may believe that Trengove, who played in a senior grand final in the SANFL with Sturt this year, may be better equipped to handle the type of attention that 2008 draftee Jack Watts attracted this year.
Sheehan doubts that.
“The old ‘he’s played against men’ stuff has been going on for 20 years, but the fact is that both systems (senior football and the TAC Cup) can develop players extremely well,” he said.
“Jack has played half a dozen senior games in the SANFL. Tom could have easily done that.
“Chris Judd didn’t play against men when he played for the Sandringham Dragons (before being drafted). West Coast played him in the WAFL in round one of the season, he was best on ground and they said, ‘what the hell is he doing there?’ ”
Sheehan described Scully as “the complete package”, but played down the importance of the draft order.
“Either way, they’re both terrific players,” he said.
“I think it’s just that people realise Trengove is a good player, too, and finally they’ve got someone to challenge Tom as the heir apparent to the No. 1 saddle cloth.”