Hird on Ball

[The Sqawka]

Here is an article Essendon legend James Hird has written for the Herald Sun, clearly putting the acid on an already under pressure Luke Ball..

Have a read and give me your thoughts. I suppose I am just a little bit upset with the treatment he has received from only one poor game from the media, and even our own supporters. I am an avid Luke Ball fan and want the pressure valve released.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/luke-ball-must-lift-for-pies-flag-tilt-james-hird/story-e6frf9jf-1225851595214

Ball has never been a long kick, but over his career he has hovered around the league average for kicking efficiency. He has sometimes dropped under that figure, but when he spends most of his time in the cauldron of the centre square and most of his possessions are under intense pressure, that is forgiveable. But last year his kicking efficiency dropped to a career-low 56 per cent. It is irrelevant whether this is due to injury or not. He must improve if he is to be regarded as an A-grade midfielder again.

Geelong's Joel Selwood is a similar player to Ball. Both show great intensity for the contest, appear to be terrific team men and kick the ball with players hanging off them. For this reason their kicking efficiency is always going to be lower than other players, and they will make mistakes. But the difference between the two in terms of kicking is marked. Ball has been a quality player in the AFL, to become this again - and to help Collingwood to a flag - he could do worse than look at Selwood's stats and running patterns. Selwood is averaging around 65 per cent kicking efficiency for his career, and so far this year he is tracking at an excellent 73.7 per cent.

This should be Luke's target for 2010 - an increase of almost 10 per cent from last year to 65 per cent. It doesn't sound a lot, but an extra one or two kicks a game that hit their targets can result in another two goals for the Magpies each week. Selwood also gains an average of 370m a week for the Cats through carrying the ball and disposals. Ball is averaging 225m a game at the Magpies - ranked 14th at the club. Of the Collingwood midfielders, he is ahead of only Shane O'Bree, who has played just one game. Only time will tell whether Ball is seen as a quality midfielder again.

There are those around the world of AFL football who are quick to jump on his performance last week as an example of how he has gone backwards. But even good players have bad games - just ask Brent Harvey. I prefer to look at last year's Grand Final. In the time Ball was on the ground, he was crucial to St Kilda hanging in the game. If Luke is truly committed to improving his kicking and continues to play with the intensity we know he can, he has the ability to again be a top-line midfielder. Anything less than this would be a huge blow for him and Collingwood. Nobody likes the media spotlight put on them, but Luke now has two choices: rise to the occasion and prove his critics wrong, or go into his shell and see his AFL career fade away. Tonight is not the be-all and end-all of his career, but a great performance would certainly tell us more about where Luke Ball the footballer is at.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/luke-ball-must-lift-for-pies-flag-tilt-james-hird/story-e6frf9jf-1225851595214

 

[Zahki]

Dumb article. Everyone knew about Balls kicking before and after the trade, he was recruited to do one thing, win the hard ball, feed it out from packs, ideally he should be handballing it off far more often than he kicks. He had great games in the NAB Cup and the round 1 game, while he went under the radar, he did exactly what he was supposed to do.

He had a bad game against Melbourne but so did half the team.

I'm sure Ball is working on his kicking, but he'll never be an elite kick, surely Hird should know that?

 

[kevind]

Very good article and spot on with his assessment of the Ball situation.

The 'Ball' saga is becoming a little tiresome. We surely must have known we were recruiting a player who had some issues ie.pace and kicking, so it was always going to be a risk.

Ball does offer a lot in the areas of work ethic, hardness at the contest and character, but it is not hard to concede that St Kilda made the right call on his career. Although they would probably like their time over again to grab pick 30 and Goldsack. Hard to see Goldasck getting a game at the Saints though.

Without knowing the reasons why, it seems that Ball's kicking problems are associated with his OP problems, so may be fixable. Kicking problems in general, however, are incredibly difficult to rectify. I can't remember a player ( Stuart Lowe being the only exception) over the last 50 years who has shown significant improvement with their kicking skills. The best strategy is to never recruit them.

 

[Old Spice]

I think it's a hard but pretty fair assessment, Ball needs to lift his game, and I think he's capable of doing that.

He doesn't need to become elite, but he needs to improve his disposal.

 

[Zahki]

I think it's a hard but pretty fair assessment, Ball needs to lift his game, and I think he's capable of doing that.

He doesn't need to become elite, but he needs to improve his disposal.

It's no worse than what it was at St Kilda last year, he hasn't gotten worse, and it's unrealistic to expect him to get better. Especially with the clubs track record of improving players kicking *cough cloke cough*.

 

[StillWaiting5689]

Kicking obviously isn't a strong point for him, I wouldn't expect it to be that low to often though. I will be watching his kicking closely tomorrow because it didn't seem like it was as bad as the media have made out and sometimes it can be misleading. I remember a WCE v Hawks game where Priddis got 40 odd touches with a 90% efficiency rating but his disposal was awful all night - so the criteria for CD kicking % can sometimes make players look worse or better than they really are.
Though pretty fair assessment really, I'm sure it is something Luke has worked on in the past and will continue to in the future, hopefully our coaches can help him.

 

[ozpie]

I really hate how this statistical analysis is becoming the basis for a players performance. It is pretty obvious that ball had a bad game against Melbourne on the weekend but it wasn't necasarily because of his kicking efficiency, it had more to do with the fact that he didn't do enough of what we recruited him for, to win the hard ball.
Sometimes I feel like these stats are an easy way for media types and the like to pass judgement on players despite having not watched the game. If you looked at the stats alone you could be forgiven for thinking presti is our least important player, we all know that isn't the case.
Hird did have a point however, ball needs to work on his kicking just like any AFL player has to work on their weaknesses

 

[Quicky]

It's a very good article and spot on IMO. It's still early days however and every player has a stinker from time to time. I'll be interested to see how he progresses through the season.

It's no worse than what it was at St Kilda last year, he hasn't gotten worse, and it's unrealistic to expect him to get better. Especially with the clubs track record of improving players kicking *cough cloke cough*.

If a player is not doing his all to improve himself, particularly such a glaring deficiency in his game i'd be mighty worried. Anything less than that is a cop out. He has had a higher kicking efficiency during his career while still carrying injury so I don't think aiming for an extra 10% in kicking efficiency in unrealistic or unreasonable.

 

[TradeDraft]

Ball Kicking has been let's say Not Very Good at All, Then I think he was never a Fantastic Kick. His Pace is the Biggest Thing he has lost since 2004-2006.

There is a Chance we made a Mistake with Ball who might be Finshed in a Few Years but It's along way before we can make that call.

I dare say he will improve but I am not sure by how Much

 

[mattys123]

The "talk" around Collingwood about Ball was that when he first arrived at the club, and went through his initial physical and mental tests, that the club was amazed at his general lack of endurance compared to the current listed players.

I think StKilda had been "nursing" him through the past few years, scared that if they trained him hard he would have a re-ocurrence of the OP problems that he had several years ago.

I think the pies too are probably being a little cautious with his approach to both training and matchday output, and that if he can "survive" the first month or so of the season without any problems, his fitness levels will then increase, and along with that his kicking will improve.

I see a direct correlation between fitness and kicking ability, especially in players who aren't as naturally gifted with the ball as others.

Ball will get better over time, but only if he is able to stay fit, and maybe over time Collingwood and Luke will "open up" his training and matchday involvement a bit and he will improve along with that.

Very little mention of future improvement in that article, although the article as a whole was a fairly honest and accurate opinion piece.

 

[Sloth]

Doesn't need to kick, all he has to do is wrestle the ball out of the packs and dish it off. That's what he's there for.

 

[didak04]

Doesn't need to kick, all he has to do is wrestle the ball out of the packs and dish it off. That's what he's there for.

I think you're over simplifying his role.

He needs more strings to his bow if he is going to be a valuable contributor to our side.

 

[The Average Tourist]

Doesn't need to kick, all he has to do is wrestle the ball out of the packs and dish it off. That's what he's there for.

I could not agree more. It is up to the other players to work off him. We recruited him to get the ball out. Tony Shaw could not kick over a jam tin or run out sight on a dark night but he played 300+ games.

If ball gets more than 6 or more clearances a game then he has done what he was recruited for, although 20 plus possesions would be good. Give it to Didak, Davis, Shaw Medhurst, Pendles and let them use it.

 

[TradeDraft]

I could not agree more. It is up to the other players to work off him. We recruited him to get the ball out. Tony Shaw could not kick over a jam tin or run out sight on a dark night but he played 300+ games.

If ball gets more than 6 or more clearances a game then he has done what he was recruited for, although 20 plus possesions would be good. Give it to Didak, Davis, Shaw Medhurst, Pendles and let them use it.

But still needs to hit his Target when he Does Kick we don't want too many Turnovers

 

[Fred]

I think you're over simplifying his role.

He needs more strings to his bow if he is going to be a valuable contributor to our side.

I think that was Lyon's major problem with Ball last year. It's not enough in modern football to just get the ball out of the packs and then have no role. He was ineffective in the general movement of the ball due to lack of pace and kicking skill.

 

[TradeDraft]

I think that was Lyon's major problem with Ball last year. It's not enough in modern football to just get the ball out of the packs and then have no role. He was ineffective in the general movement of the ball due to lack of pace and kicking skill.

If that was the Case then that is Fair Enough but The problem was why was Lyon playing Hard Ball with us when he has 1 or 2 Tricks and seems to have Limitations for the Modern Game?

 

[YouIdiot]

I'll be happy with Luke Ball in our side if we can get a similar output from him as we did in the NAB games and R1.

He will have a few stinkers like R2, as will every other player. And hopefully he will play out of his skin a couple of times, like last years GF.

But for the most part, refer to my first sentence.

The media attention his form has received is a bit knee jerk, but why is that any great surprise?

 

[chappo52]

How can you judge the player who kicks the ball perfect only to have target player make some baffling move to out mark the opposition, Didak and Jack were major offenders, and fail. Didak has no stat that says he didnt attack the ball. but the kicker has his disposal efficiency measured

 

[HFF]

It's amazing how quickly past players and media folk alike are quick to put the blowtorch on Bally.

These were the same people that said he "wouldn't have a major impact at Collingwood" but he will improve them to some extent in close with is hardness.

Now, they tell us he was recruited to "help take us to a premiership". Hmmm.

Watching the Melbourne game, alot of our players were woeful by foot, particularly our elite ball users i.e. Didak.

Sure, Bally isn't an elite kick but when you are constantly getting the ball in close and tight in pressure situations, of course the disposal/kicking efficiency will be low.

IMO, in the first two games thus far, Bally has been better than our other prized recruit in Jolly. In fact, I think he has been very lucky thus far to escape some media scrutiny.

Hopefully both players can make a statement tonight.

 

[TradeDraft]

It's amazing how quickly past players and media folk alike are quick to put the blowtorch on Bally.

These were the same people that said he "wouldn't have a major impact at Collingwood" but he will improve them to some extent in close with is hardness.

Now, they tell us he was recruited to "help take us to a premiership". Hmmm.

Watching the Melbourne game, alot of our players were woeful by foot, particularly our elite ball users i.e. Didak.

Sure, Bally isn't an elite kick but when you are constantly getting the ball in close and tight in pressure situations, of course the disposal/kicking efficiency will be low.

IMO, in the first two games thus far, Bally has been better than our other prized recruit in Jolly. In fact, I think he has been very lucky thus far to escape some media scrutiny.

Hopefully both players can make a statement tonight.

Does not help they Both play for Collingwood

 

[didaka]

His kicking efficiency will improve once he stops trying to hit moving targets under pressure 20m away. Thinks he's Luke Hodge sometimes.

 

[Mickaman]

Its amazing the media scrutiny with Ball at the moment. As most people have put here everyone (media included) knows that his disposal efficiency and penetration of his kicking is not elite. But yet one ordinary match and it is like the biggest footy story of the week.

B Harvey dodged a media bullet last week he had 5 frickin disposals and hardly hear anything about him. Just that he needs help in the middle.

 

[Jie_Hodge]

Watched the game on the weekend twice and I am 85% sure that only 1 or maybe 2 of his kicks where direct turnovers, i.e opposition marks or uncontested possie, and this was when he was buggered amd ready for a spell.

The other kicks didn't necessarily hit the target on the tit, but was enough there to make a contest unfortunately for us Melbourne won there fair share of 50/50 contests. He wasn't robinson crusoe on this either not many players were kicking well, not saying he played a good game, but thought he was just below average, not near our worst players.

We know now and before we took him that he isn't the greatest of kicks and doesnt have a lot of penetration, but it isn't as bad as this week has made him out to be.

Statistics are ruining our game, as far as a players standing in the game and how well they played is concerned, I believe that I have watched enough footy over the years, and have a decent understanding of it as most general footy supporters to make a judgement whether a player had played well or not based on actually watching the game

 

[Quicky]

Its amazing the media scrutiny with Ball at the moment. As most people have put here everyone (media included) knows that his disposal efficiency and penetration of his kicking is not elite. But yet one ordinary match and it is like the biggest footy story of the week.

B Harvey dodged a media bullet last week he had 5 frickin disposals and hardly hear anything about him. Just that he needs help in the middle.

It was a pretty ordinary game from a kicking disposal perspective - 20% is just bad. I think Hird put it across in a pretty fair and honest way. This is the bit that really rings true for me:

But last year his kicking efficiency dropped to a career-low 56 per cent. It is irrelevant whether this is due to injury or not. He must improve if he is to be regarded as an A-grade midfielder again.

And then:

I prefer to look at last year's Grand Final. In the time Ball was on the ground, he was crucial to St Kilda hanging in the game. If Luke is truly committed to improving his kicking and continues to play with the intensity we know he can, he has the ability to again be a top-line midfielder. Anything less than this would be a huge blow for him and Collingwood.

Not much wrong with the article IMO.

 

[the_fresh]

Its amazing the media scrutiny with Ball at the moment. As most people have put here everyone (media included) knows that his disposal efficiency and penetration of his kicking is not elite. But yet one ordinary match and it is like the biggest footy story of the week.

B Harvey dodged a media bullet last week he had 5 frickin disposals and hardly hear anything about him. Just that he needs help in the middle.

Its because Harvey said it himself that he played the worst game of his life.

My only worry about Ball is his kicking, 20% last week meant that 1 in 5 of his kicks ended up in Collingwoods hands, not good enough from a park player let alone a AFL player.