AS THE former mentor of Tom Scully, Demon Nathan Jones does not expect the Giants midfielder to be ruffled by his first game against his old teammates.
The No.1 draft pick of 2009 faces Melbourne for the first time since accepting a six-year contract to join the Giants, after just two seasons and 31 games with the Demons.
Jones knows the character of his opponent well and he expects there will be plenty of banter between Scully and his former teammates when the Demons play Greater Western Sydney at the MCG on Sunday.
But Jones believes Scully will be unruffled by all the attention and any taunting from former teammates.
"Maybe he could throw a few dollars my way," Jones said. "That will be one of the questions I'll ask."
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Jones said the players did not carry any resentment towards Scully but were looking forward to the contest nonetheless.
"It's going to be good fun, I guess," Jones said. "He's going to be another enemy when we get on the ground and just another GWS player."
Jones said he expected the Melbourne crowd would make their feelings towards Scully known but added any message would be delivered in the right spirit.
"It is just all good fun and it is a good little rivalry that will be built up," Jones said. "In house, it is not something we are talking about."
Scully is not the only former Demon playing with GWS. Former Melbourne captain James McDonald has made a comeback this season after being delisted by the Demons at the end of 2010 after 251 games with the club. He is a playing assistant coach at the Giants and has been solid in his seven games with the new club.
Jones said McDonald would give as good as he got on Sunday and he remained a revered figure among the people he played alongside at Melbourne.
"He's highly respected - his achievements and how he led the footy club and just the bloke that he is around here he will never be forgotten," Jones said.
While words might be flying around between the teams on Sunday, Jones said all players were aware of where the boundaries were when it came to on-field banter.
The issue of sledging re-emerged this week after Western Bulldog Will Minson offended Port Adelaide's Danyle Pearce with insulting comments during Sunday's game.
When asked whether the best way to put Scully off was physical pressure or a verbal barrage, Jones hinted that he would sit right near those boundaries.
"I'll be trying both, I'll give you the hot tip," Jones said.
One player who won't carry any baggage into the game is first-year midfielder and mature age recruit James Magner.
He described Sunday's clash as just another game.
"[I've] never met Tom Scully, never played against him, so [I'm looking] forward to playing against him on the weekend," Magner said.
He expects GWS to provide a great contest, having been impressed with their competitiveness throughout the season.
"I expect a hard physical team," Magner said. "They will be right up for the contest and I have only seen them play a few times, they look like they are really competitive and are always in the game."
