Melbourne have made an official PSD play for Ball.

[Hollow Knight]

SEN just read out an official statement from the club on air.

 

[jimmy35]

I would expect them to go very hard at him.

 

[bombermick]

I think he'll stay with St. Kilda. Stranger things happen, but it's hard to see him leaving a team that looks close to a flag to one who looks 5 years away.

 

[cannons]

Article on the official MFC website:

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/85945/default.aspx

Following the conclusion of the AFL Trade Period, the Melbourne Football Club has declared its interest in Luke Ball.

General Manager - List Management, Tim Harrington, said, "We immediately held talks with Luke’s manager, Paul Connors, to get a better understanding of Luke’s future plans, given that we have the first selection in the pre-season draft.”

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/85945/default.aspx

 

[smiddaz123]

Luke Ball must be feeling pretty terrible right now. Realistically, while Melbourne have some talented young players, they're quite a way off a flag. Ball would want to be at a side with a reasonable chance of challenging for a flag.

He'd be distraught Lyon didn't trade him off.

 

[Lach72]

We have some spare cash...
Harves has said we're using our PSD pick this year

 

[cannons]

Luke Ball must be feeling pretty terrible right now. Realistically, while Melbourne have some talented young players, they're quite a way off a flag. Ball would want to be at a side with a reasonable chance of challenging for a flag.

He'd be distraught Lyon didn't trade him off.

If he goes to Melbourne, he will have a very good chance of playing in a grand final in a few years time, considering he is still pretty young.

I honestly don't see Collingwood challenging for some time, as they have a decent side, but lack the quality to go all the way.

 

[jonoman89]

He'd only go to Melbourne because they can throw a bucket of cash at him for the next 3 years.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Cannons: The Demons are far enough away from their "premiership window" that a younger McLean decided it was too long to wait. I think that was fair comment by smiddaz123.

 

[demonfan9]

Which we certainly will jonoman. The only question is whether Ball decides to give the Saints another crack, or start fresh at a new club.

 

[Fitzy]

Dont rule out Collingwood taking him with pick 30 in the national draft, they were prepared to swap this pick to St kilda but they knocked it back.
Providing no-one else swoops prior to pick 30.

 

[monkeyshine]

Can anyone tell me how they would get Luke Ball in the PSD? Would he need to not sign with St Kilda, is that basically it? Why wouldn't Melbourne have done this in the first place seeing as they are giving up nothing?

 

[demon48]

He'd only go to Melbourne because they can throw a bucket of cash at him for the next 3 years.

The same reason Chris Judd went to Carlton?

 

[demonfan9]

Cannons: The Demons are far enough away from their "premiership window" that a younger McLean decided it was too long to wait. I think that was fair comment by smiddaz123.

I don't necessarily think that was the full reason behind McLean leaving. It may have attributed to his decision, but I'm sure there are other possible reasons, such as:

- Didn't get along with Dean Bailey.
- Didn't like his role in the side.
- Was upset at a reduced contract offer.
- Received a great offer from Carlton, a club in which he also has family links.

 

[dees 4 life]

Realisticly no one knows when Melbournes premership window is open or closed. Footy is a funny game and things and clubs turn very quickly. Granted Melbourne are very very weak at the moment, get a few good kids comming through togeather and things change very quickly.

Back to the Ball topic i think we should go very hard at him considering we just lost McLean. He is in our age brackett and we have plenty of cap room. He is only 25? so still has plenty of good footy ahead and would be there in 5-6 years time when Melbourne are there abouts.

 

[Hollow Knight]

If Melbourne can get Ball in the PSD, that easily cancels out losing Brock McLean and mean they basically get pick 11 free.

 

[jimmy35]

He'd be distraught Lyon didn't trade him off.

We have some spare cash...
Harves has said we're using our PSD pick this year

I don't think he's that distraught.

 

[rohansword]

A good replacement for Mclean.

I'd love Ball to come and get 95% match time and pull off 35 pos per game. He'd definatley be in one of Melbournes top players. He could make a big difference. Ball still has at least 5 good years to come! Ball would still be around when melbourne develop into a legitimate finals team.

In 4 years from now when our kids should start hittin their straps we will have around 20 players in the age group of 22-26.

Scully 22, Trengove 22, Pick 11 (22?), Pick 18 (22?) Watts 22, Struass 23, Blease 22Morton 23, Maric 23, Bennell 23, Cheney 24, Jetta 24, Grimes 24, Garland 25, Frawley 25Wonnaeamirri 25, Jones 25, Petterd 25, Jurrah 25, Bate 26,

 

[jimmy35]

The same reason Chris Judd went to Carlton?

No, he cares about the enviroment.

 

[w00dy]

Dont rule out Collingwood taking him with pick 30 in the national draft, they were prepared to swap this pick to St kilda but they knocked it back.
Providing no-one else swoops prior to pick 30.

Exactly, if you were Luke Ball would you risk going in the draft, with a chance that you could end up going anywhere? St. Kilda ironically enough are the only club who don't have a pick before Collingwood do in the National Draft, so he could end up going anywhere... He could easily be snapped up by that pick...

Or he can enter the PSD with certainty that he will be drafted by Melbourne... Unfortunately for Pies fans, Ball won't be going to Collingwood...

 

[pendlebury_10]

If he goes to Melbourne, he will have a very good chance of playing in a grand final in a few years time, considering he is still pretty young.

I honestly don't see Collingwood challenging for some time, as they have a decent side, but lack the quality to go all the way.

You my friend, along with other melbourne supporters can not possibly be of the belief that your premiership window is about to open?

A long way off it.
2-1 favourites to win the next two spoons.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

I don't necessarily think that was the full reason behind McLean leaving. It may have attributed to his decision, but I'm sure there are other possible reasons, such as:

- Didn't get along with Dean Bailey.
- Didn't like his role in the side.
- Was upset at a reduced contract offer.
- Received a great offer from Carlton, a club in which he also has family links.

Yes, fair points, all of those are possible reasons. However the point I've made is also a documented reason for his departure.

 

[bodazoka]

Luke Ball must be feeling pretty terrible right now. Realistically, while Melbourne have some talented young players, they're quite a way off a flag. Ball would want to be at a side with a reasonable chance of challenging for a flag.

He'd be distraught Lyon didn't trade him off.

Mabye your blokes shouldnt of told him he would be in black and white next year which would of allowed him to seek other trade options with clubs also close to a flag.

 

[dees 4 life]

You my friend, along with other melbourne supporters can not possibly be of the belief that your premiership window is about to open?

A long way off it.
2-1 favourites to win the next two spoons.

I am not one of those Melbourne supports you talk about pendles.

Make no mistake the pies windown is open.

The dees are tying to find the key to unlock the window at this stage.

 

[Invigoration]

Exactly, if you were Luke Ball would you risk going in the draft, with a chance that you could end up going anywhere? St. Kilda ironically enough are the only club who don't have a pick before Collingwood do in the National Draft, so he could end up going anywhere... He could easily be snapped up by that pick...

Or he can enter the PSD with certainty that he will be drafted by Melbourne... Unfortunately for Pies fans, Ball won't be going to Collingwood...

I don't mean this as an insult to Melbourne, but I'd be willing to take my chances, odds are he is going to land at a team that is in a better position than Melbourne because I don't see why the bottom 4 teams would use a first or second rounder on him?
I couldn't see you guys sacrificing pick 18 for him, I could be wrong though, would you want them to use it?

I would just think if I was him, if I don't make it to Collingwood, chances are a better team than Melbourne will take me... I mean, 15 teams were better than you this year, not saying your scope for improvement isn't large, but Ball could be completely broken down by the time you guys are really ready to challenge.
A lot of your supporters were justifying moving McLean on because of how far away your window is, Ball is a more severe case of that IMO.

If he goes to the PSD it is a great get, but if he chances the draft I think it would work out better for him. I don't know why the certainty of going to Melbourne would encourage him to go into the PSD?
Anyone have the order of the picks after the first rounders (don't assume anyone will use one on Ball)?