Melbourne still feeling impact of tanking saga after a decade of drafts, trades

Melbourne’s reward for winning fewer than five games in 2009 was Tom Scully and Jack Trengove. After a decade of drafts and trades, the fallout is still being felt at the Demons and other clubs.

The flow-on effects of Melbourne’s tanking saga are still being felt as questions are raised on the benefits of securing early draft picks.

Boom recruit Steven May - criticised this week by club great Garry Lyon for arriving at the club in poor condition - is the latest domino in a series of selections and trades that flowed from the first two picks in the infamous 2009 draft.

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Explosive documents obtained by the Herald Sun reveal new details of Melbourne’s determination to not win more than four matches in 2009 to qualify for a priority draft pick.

A 47-point loss to eventual Grand Finalist St Kilda in Round 22 ensured the Demons qualified under the AFL’s priority pick rules after a three-win season in 2008.

Melbourne’s 2009 draftees (from left): Tom Scully, Luke Tapscott, Jack Trengove, Jordan Gysberts, Jack Fitzpatrick, Max Gawn.

On November 26 the top 10 selections were revealed in a new (and now abandoned) countdown format. It was no surprise when Melbourne unveiled gun midfielders Tom Scully and Jack Trengove as their No.1 and 2 picks.

“We couldn’t split them, unfortunately we were required to call them one by one, if it was up to me we would have called them out together,” coach Dean Bailey said at the time.

Scully said: “It’s a very exciting moment for myself and my family, I’m speechless at the moment and I’m really excited.”

Demons coach Dean Bailey with Tom Scully and Jack Trengove after the 2009 draft.

Recruiter Barry Prendergast said earlier in the year after watching Scully collect 33, 17 and 30 disposals despite being tagged in the under-18 national championships: “With his quick hands and his competitiveness and his running, he’s justified his reputation and certainly his ranking at this point.”

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Scully and Trengove made their debuts in Round 1, 2010 against Hawthorn. Scully had 20 disposals and Trentove 23. Scully finished second in the 2010 AFL Rising Star award behind Sydney’s Dan Hannebery, won Melbourne’s best first-year player award and finished eighth in the best-and-fairest.

But both players are now at other clubs.

Scully played 31 games for the Demons in 2010-11 before accepting a mega offer from GWS - six years at a reported $6 million. The then 20-year-old admitted the size of the contract was a significant factor in joining the expansion club for its first season.

“I also saw an opportunity be part of a brand new football club with access to so much young talent,” Scully said.

Tom Scully in action for the Giants against Melbourne.

Tom Scully in his Hawthorn debut.

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

Melbourne received compensation picks for Scully, which it traded back to GWS the next year for pick 2 in the 2012 mini-draft, which they used to select Jesse Hogan. As part of the deal the Demons also received Dom Barry (five games) and pick 20, which was traded to Collingwood for Chris Dawes (50 games).

Scully played 121 games for the Giants before being traded to Hawthorn (for a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft) in a shock move at the end of last season. He made his Hawks debut in Round 2 against the Bulldogs, collecting 15 disposals.

Trengove played 18 games in his first year. He made news in his second season when he was controversially suspended for a sling tackle on Adelaide’s Patrick Dangerfield, and again when he was named Melbourne co-captain with Jack Grimes on the eve of the 2012 season.

A chronic foot injury kept him to just seven games from 2014-17 and he was delisted at the end of 2017, then signed with Port Adelaide as a delisted free agent. He played three matches for the Power in 2018 and remains on the list, but hasn’t played a game this year.

Jack Trengove is now at Port Adelaide. Picture Sarah Reed

Most of Melbourne’s other draft picks that year are gone from the AFL system.

Jordan Gysberts (pick 11) had 26 disposals on debut against Geelong but played just 19 games in three seasons before being traded to North Melbourne for Cam Pedersen, who played 64 games before retiring at the end of 2018. Gysberts didn’t play a senior game for the Roos.

Luke Tapscott (pick 18) played 48 games in four seasons, kicking 12 goals. He was delisted at the end of 2014.

Jack Fitzpatrick (50) played 22 games for the Demons before a surprise trade to Hawthorn, where he famously kicked a matchwinning goal against Collingwood on debut. He retired at the end of 2017 due to ongoing concussion issues.

Steven May hasn’t had an ideal start to his Melbourne career. Picture: Michael Klein

The shining light is Max Gawn (pick 34), who will play his 102nd game for the Demons against Essendon tonight as the reigning All-Australian ruckman.

May won’t be out there. He is expected to miss three weeks with a groin injury.

He arrived at the Demons in exchange for the draft pick (No.6) they received from Fremantle for Hogan, who made his Dockers debut last weekend, collecting 21 disposals against Gold Coast.

2009 AFL DRAFT

1. (priority) - Tom Scully - Melbourne

2. Jack Trengove - Melbourne

3. Dustin Martin - Richmond

4. Anthony Morabito - Fremantle

5. Ben Cunnington - North Melbourne

6. Gary Rohan - Sydney

7. Brad Sheppard - West Coast

8. John Butcher - Port Adelaide

9. Andrew Moore - Port Adelaide

10. Jake Melksham - Essendon

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11. Jordan Gysberts - Melbourne (pick received from Carlton for Brock McLean)

18. Luke Tapscott - Melbourne

34. Max Gawn - Melbourne

50. Jack Fitzpatrick - Melbourne