Relaxed, fit and ready to lead. Tom Scully can’t wait for the 2012 AFL season to start. It’s been over four months since Greater Western Sydney announced Scully would join the club on a six-year deal.
In two months, people will be analysing the AFL debuts of GWS and Israel Folau.
But Scully’s performance as general of the Giants’ midfield will also be one of the main talking points of the stand-alone start to the 2012 season.
Considering the constant speculation the 20-year-old faced in Melbourne over his future last season, and the scrutiny over his dad joining the Giants as a recruiter, that probably won’t be so bad.
“I’m just pretty keen to get out there and play some good footy. I’m really enjoying playing with my new team-mates,” Scully said on Thursday.
“I feel a lot more relaxed in Sydney. I really like the lifestyle up here.
“It’s really good being able to go about your business without having to worry about all that sort of stuff (being a public figure in Melbourne).”
Scully is not only mentally at ease. A bumper pre-season has him physically fresh – a handy boost for a player who was dogged in 2011 by a knee injury that restricted him to 10 games.
“Having the confidence that I’ve completed nearly all of pre-season is a good thing to have leading into a season,” he said.
“You can set yourself up for a good year.
“Last year I was in and out of pre-season, which was frustrating.
“But that’s all behind us now … I’ve done nearly everything and the body’s feeling really good.”
Aside from spending more time on the training track, Scully has found himself in more of a leadership role at the Giants.
“We’re starting a footy club basically from scratch, so there’s a lot of young players around with not much AFL experience.
“Suddenly I’m looking at myself, in my third year, and I’m probably one of the more experienced players.
“… But even the younger boys who were drafted, they’ve all showed really good leadership qualities.”
GWS coach Kevin Sheedy is expected to announce the club’s captain in mid-February.
Scully, who captained Victoria Metro in the 2009 AFL Under 18 championship, must surely be on Sheedy’s shortlist of six.
If Sheedy wants a long-term skipper, former Brisbane co-captain Luke Power would perhaps be too old at 32.
But Power, also the Giants’ forward line coach, is providing no shortage of on-field guidance according to Folau.
“I think Luke Power has stood out for me and I’m sure a lot of other players would say the same,” he said.
“He gives good feedback during training on what you need to work on … and he’s certainly helping a lot of the young guys.”
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