Ball on SEN

[KissStephanie]

Spoke to a collingwood player a couple of weeks ago and he said that his OP isn't great, he is struggling a little, and his aerobic fitness is lacking.

Well I spoke to someone that is very close to Luke Ball, and apparently he has not had any worries regarding his past injury problems. That would explain the reason that he was immediately sent to Arizona to join the main group after being drafted instead of staying behind on a modified programme.

Ball looked awesome to me today Kicking well, moving freely, showing some speed too. Not a player you would think is struggling for fitness

His best footy is ahead of him in my opinion. I'm sure he is more determined than ever, and much happier to be away from St.Kilda as well. His pre-season preparation has been great and without any problems according to this article from yesterday, and Mick Malthouse believes he can play for seven more seasons...

Ball has enjoyed a flawless pre-season with his new club and will play against the Saints in Round 1 of the NAB Cup unless he suffers an unexpected setback before the match on February 19.

Instead of trying to force Ball to adapt in different positions, coach Mick Malthouse yesterday told the Herald Sun he would let him thrive as a genuine midfielder.

"We have got Luke Ball and we are not going to kid ourselves. He's basically a midfielder and we are not going to reinvent him as a half-back or half-forward. He is a ball-getting midfielder. He has leadership abilities and he's a relatively young man. He should be able to play for seven or eight years."

Also struggled to make an impact to get within a bulls roarof our b&F....probably the best indicator of where he sat in the clubs pecking order...

The way that many of the St.Kilda supporters have turned on Luke Ball is dreadful. He was a required player and St.Kilda did not want to trade him to Collingwood because they were aware his body is sound and that he would make a top-4 side better. Nick Riewoldt certainly sounded like they wanted to keep him when he was sucking on a grapefruit on Triple M a couple of days ago. How embarrassing.

He was in the top-10 in the 2008 Best and Fairest, but Ross Lyon gave him less minutes on the ground in 2009 than in any previous season because they clashed with each other. He is not the only player that has had a personality clash with Lyon since he has been at St.Kilda either.

In a side that lost 3 games for the season....if you couldnt get a stat...you had to be ordinary or Obree.

Yes, and he averaged 20 disposals, 3 marks and 6 tackles last season which was better output per minutes played than in 2005 when he was captain and All-Australian.

Ball will be serviceable. He'll come out great early, by July he'll be handballing knackered and will offer no goals with his opponents running off him (he cant run out a game and Lyon and Co knew this going into the GF).

Ha ha ha! What a load of rubbish. His best match last season was in Round 19 (August), and he was terrific in the Grand Final (late September), so to consider him as a front runner is completely unfounded and made-up. Ross Lyon knew he could have played more than 47% of the Grand Final which explains why he wanted to keep him at the club, but he chose against giving him more time on the ground that day which cost St.Kilda the premiership. Most importantly, Luke Ball definitely knew he could have played more in the Grand Final so that was the final straw for him understandably.

500K - Hes all yours.....no way we were paying that...

Come on now. Although that figure must be counted in the salary cap for the next two seasons, it is front loaded and was simply to put other clubs off.

 

[Vampire013]

The draft system sucks in the first place.
The good players end up at shit clubs.
Luke is a top player who was treated like dirt by an ignorant prick of a coach. At least Grant Thomas respected Luke and his commitment.
He tries his hardest every time he goes out onto the field.
I used to feel sorry for the guy. He has taken so many bad hits to the head in the past while playing for that ungrateful mob.
I doubt he wanted to go to St.Kilda in the first place.
He has served his punishment for being a good junior player and now has a chance to play at a real club who will treat his with the respect he deserves.
I think the best of Luke Ball is yet to come.
Ross Lyon is going to have an Ostrich egg on his face the dumb arrogant prick.

 

[danielnajdek]

If you wanna listen to dribble turn it on sen right now. Francis Francis Francis you muppet. Robbo isn't any better. The only one making sense is the Ox.

 

[Optimax]

If you wanna listen to dribble turn it on sen right now. Francis Francis Francis you muppet. Robbo isn't any better. The only one making sense is the Ox.

Shit

You are in trouble when ox is the one making sense

 

[TradeDraft]

If you wanna listen to dribble turn it on sen right now. Francis Francis Francis you muppet. Robbo isn't any better. The only one making sense is the Ox.

What have they been Saying?

 

[danielnajdek]

Yeah I know he's usually the one talking crap. Francis is seriously an idiot.

 

[HFF]

What's been said thus far?

 

[danielnajdek]

just being a typical St Kilda supporter flog. They just can't get over it.

 

[puskas]

oldmate sainter35 still a bit cut up about ball, s'ok buddy you'll be right.