Luke Ball IS Shane O'Bree only he doesn't....

[Damon_3388]

Here's a simple 2009 stats comparison from Footy Wire, and a more in-depth 2009 stats comparison (including all-important efficiency numbers, which actually all favour Ball) from Pro-Stats. Looking at those numbers, I'd rather have Luke Ball to be honest.

One area that isn't being considered by the OP is Ball's awesome tackling game as well. We're crying out for an upgrade in tackling pressure, and Ball would provide this in spades. Ball has a better career tackling average (5.1) than Tony Liberatore (4.3), and 2009 was Ball's best tackling year, averaging 5.8 per game. O'Bree is a good tackler too, but Ball is better and younger.

 

[Histrionics]

I really hope we get Ball.

 

[Heater39]

If Ball turns out half as good as O'Bree, sign him up now and offer half the list.

O'Bree has been a star for us. Don't anyone argue otherwise. And Ball's footskills are slowly getting better as he gets more power through his leg back.

His disposal was good under the pressure in the Grand Final.


Plus he got no gametime. As the poster above me pointed out, he barely gets on the field under Lyon. He would build up to 80 minutes gametime under us with the heavy rotations.

He is a tackling and clearance machine. O'Bree is also a clearance machine and the 2 are equal on that stat.


Put Jolly there as a ruckman, and what an onball division we have!

What the hell is your definition of a star?

Half as good as O'Bree= sub AFL standard.

O'Bree has been good value for a PSD pickup but wouldn't get a game for any other top 4 club. As long as we are relying heavily on him as one of our centre square mids we will not win a flag.

 

[mattys123]

I really hope we get Ball.

Looks like we will get Luke Ball, even his manager said on SEN this morning that both clubs are acting in good faith and a deal should be done once Collingwood finds a 3rd or even a 4th club to deal with.

Seems Collingwod and Stkilda can't agree on a direct deal, so the pies are trying to trade elsewhere, I'd say for an early second round pick that we can then give to StKilda.

 

[Optimax]

Looks like we will get Luke Ball, even his manager said on SEN this morning that both clubs are acting in good faith and a deal should be done once Collingwood finds a 3rd or even a 4th club to deal with.

Seems Collingwod and Stkilda can't agree on a direct deal, so the pies are trying to trade elsewhere, I'd say for an early second round pick that we can then give to StKilda.

Saints want players according to sen

 

[The Royal Sampler]

They want Andrejs Everitt, so we'll have to deal a player for an earlier 2nd rounder, and give it to the Dogs who can release Everitt to the Saints,

 

[mattys123]

So who are we trading for this 2nd round pick then, is it Nathan Brown?

 

[Dundalis]

Do you watch footy?, Ball is only one hundred times the player O'bree is um....... ok! He's better but not by much and younger but anyone who has watched him from being a junior, like I have and you obviously haven't, knows he just doesn't run as well. I credit him with reinventing himself as a purely inside midfielder buts thats all he is now and not a match winner like Judd and Hodge.

The comparison for Ball would be to Sam Mitchell not Hodge or Judd whom are different players. Mitchell is a absolute star and probably the Hawks best mid in a great midfield, and Ball has the ability to be pretty close to that standard.

 

[pongo_3931]

The comparison for Ball would be to Sam Mitchell not Hodge or Judd whom are different players. Mitchell is a absolute star and probably the Hawks best mid in a great midfield, and Ball has the ability to be pretty close to that standard.

If he's to Mitchells standard I'd give my left nut to get him.

Not my right.

Okay my right but I want their second round pick and Ball D).

 

[mdc]

The comparison for Ball would be to Sam Mitchell not Hodge or Judd whom are different players. Mitchell is a absolute star and probably the Hawks best mid in a great midfield, and Ball has the ability to be pretty close to that standard.

Mitchell has elite disposal on both sides, by hand and by foot, which means he'll always be 2-3 tiers above someone like Luke Ball.

That's not a shot at Ball, it's just Mitchell is one of the best 8-10 mids in the league.

 

[Snoop Dog]

...........only problem with the comparison is that Cheesy has had 2 grand finals to show he is good against good opposition and failed miserably.....whereas Ball was one of their best against Geelong.

 

[smiddaz123]

Luke Ball is Shane O'Bree, with less ability to grow facial hair, but more ability to play football.

He'll be a huge get for us.

 

[Dundalis]

Here's a simple 2009 stats comparison from Footy Wire, and a more in-depth 2009 stats comparison (including all-important efficiency numbers, which actually all favour Ball) from Pro-Stats. Looking at those numbers, I'd rather have Luke Ball to be honest.

One area that isn't being considered by the OP is Ball's awesome tackling game as well. We're crying out for an upgrade in tackling pressure, and Ball would provide this in spades. Ball has a better career tackling average (5.1) than Tony Liberatore (4.3), and 2009 was Ball's best tackling year, averaging 5.8 per game. O'Bree is a good tackler too, but Ball is better and younger.

Look at tackling percentage. Shows Ball is a miles better tackler than O'Bree despite same averages pg.

Actually I like this comparison more. Arguably the best inside mid in the game, and a very similar player:

http://www.pro-stats.com.au/psw/web/compare_players?tid1=113&pid1=2002114&tid2=108&pid2=2002073

Looks like Mitchell is clearly ahead with 10 more ppg, but you would need to take TOG into account down the bottom. Mitchell pretty much wouldn't know what a bench looks like. That taken into account, its a good comparison, if you take ratios into account based on TOG Ball comes out equal or on top in most areas. Not saying Ball will be as good, but I think he could be pretty close.

Certainly a better comparison than to O'Bree.

 

[dswan]

Shane Obree is quicker

 

[Dundalis]

Mitchell has elite disposal on both sides, by hand and by foot, which means he'll always be 2-3 tiers above someone like Luke Ball.

That's not a shot at Ball, it's just Mitchell is one of the best 8-10 mids in the league.

Mitchell is a good kick, particularly over short distances, but he is hardly elite. And Luke Ball is a better kick than he has shown this season.

 

[dswan]

Mitchell has elite disposal on both sides, by hand and by foot, which means he'll always be 2-3 tiers above someone like Luke Ball.

That's not a shot at Ball, it's just Mitchell is one of the best 8-10 mids in the league.

pendlebury is better than mitchell

 

[mdc]

Mitchell is a good kick, particularly over short distances, but he is hardly elite. And Luke Ball is a better kick than he has shown this season.

Is Pendlebury an elite kick? I'd have them roughly equal on kicking. And there's the little matter of Mitchell being able to handball just as far as Ball can kick

 

[Dundalis]

Of course, if Ball can't get over his OP, then there will be issues. But every issue Ball has had has been experienced by Chris Judd, including the can't kick over 35 metres issue. I expect Ball can similarly come through it.

And no IMO Pendlebury isn't an elite kick. Both are very accurate over short distances, not quite so reliable over long distances which for me anyway, doesn't fit the profile of an elite kick of the footy.

 

[jerry springer]

Does Luke ball go missing in big games like O'bree too?

 

[loki04]

Is Pendlebury an elite kick? I'd have them roughly equal on kicking. And there's the little matter of Mitchell being able to handball just as far as Ball can kick

Mitchell doesn't have great depth in his kick either...

 

[Pie eyed]

Does Luke ball go missing in big games like O'bree too?

If you are going to condemn Cheesey on that basis we need to move on nearly the whole list.

Fact is we got flogged by a better side.
To the vast majority of our Geelong's side a final is another day at the office.

To the vast majority of ours it's the Office Xmas party. They all got too full and started pfhoto copying their bums.

Simply we are not quite there yet, but we are close.

Cheesey is for the moment important in our mid-field and if, big if, we get Ball he will slot in to Cheesy's spot in the long term.
Like it or not every flag side has it's grunts along with it's stars even Geelong, the Saints and Hawflog.

It's the unsung blokes who do the hard, unappreciated things who allow the stars to shine.

 

[jerry springer]

To the vast majority of our Geelong's side a final is another day at the office.

To the vast majority of ours it's the Office Xmas party. They all got too full and started pfhoto copying their bums.

sorry are you on bad acid?Cant work out what your trying to say

 

[jerry springer]

But I do get your drift

however....

it was our 3rd finals series in a row.And we were badly let down by Players who had played in GF's like Cheesey,davis,etc

forget the kids for a minute.is it too much to expect our senior player's to stand up in big games?Obree's last 2 months were horrible.he even said the Saints game was the worst game of his career

 

[Pie eyed]

sorry are you on bad acid?Cant work out what your trying to say

Hahahah. fair call really. I'm full as a tick on a couple of bottles of "Arrogant Frog" a nice Savignon Blanc.


What I was trying to say is we are inexperienced a s a group at this finals game.
We can get there but are not capitalising yet.
Cheesey is helping us get the experience we need.

 

[jerry springer]

Hahahah. fair call really. I'm full as a tick on a couple of bottles of "Arrogant Frog" a nice Savignon Blanc.

sounds nice.Tis a day to celebrate,collingwood getting their 1st decent ruckman for 20 years

Will be great sight seeing Leon,Dids and Dick crumbing in a forward pocket to a AA ruckman next year.