Hird on Ball

[Ricmel]

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.

Problem is, this assumes Luke had no career prior to the last 2 games. It is not just one match in which his kicking has been poor. It has been going downhill ever since 2007. It hasn't just suddenly happened since he got to Pies.

I think what is surprising perhaps the media and Pies fans is just how ordinary it is.

 

[Old Spice]

Ball's pre-season has been good, and we didn't get him to burn down the middle to kick pinpoint 50 metre passes. Ball is there to get the ball and dish it out.

It's going to be a matter of managing his fitness and improving his disposal. Fine tuning, not a radical overhaul.

 

[3066]

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.

Thanks for the info .... very interested indeed. At the doggies game I was standing room and watching him off play. For someone that wasn't being rotated for busting a gut he was having a hard time getting the air into his lungs. The guy is ripped so you would have thought the cardio would have gone with it too but apparently not.

Hird's piece is fine by me. Ball is the Obree replacement we needed without losing a termendous about of on field leadership. My first thought was "great! we've got the in and under, take the hit, kind of player but better kick". Any improvement on O'Bree's kicking is a bonus because he doesn't damage teams. IF Bally's kicking is less than OBree's then we have a real big problem ... and for those that think he is not needed for kicking would you trust OBree to kick goal from 40metres out directly in front to win a game of footy?!? I don't think so. The guys changed dominant foot mid-career! Bally needs to be a better than Obree kick to be a kind of player we need.

 

[roosaints]

Modern game has past him by. It's about quick ball movement, clean foot skills and hard running accountability. Ball provides none. There was a reason he struggled for a spot last year.

 

[Old Spice]

A few seasons with decent facilities, hyperbaric chambers, Buttifant etc, and his fitness and disposal will improve.

There is no doubt that the two issues are enmeshed. That's not to say that he'll achieve 80% DE, but it will improve.

 

[larrikan]

Modern game has past him by. It's about quick ball movement, clean foot skills and hard running accountability. Ball provides none. There was a reason he struggled for a spot last year.

wow..is that why you offered him a new contract....wait...according to your umpire golden boy captain he walked out on his contract...lol at your three things in modern football too...hard running accountability?..lol..that sounds like a good criteria for your anti Ball rant....who gets the Ball out to these modern day footballers with their clean foot skills and quick Ball movement?????????

Saints posters p off...we don't care what he did when he played with you...we don't even care what you think....

what we care about is he plays the role (thats right he has a specific role to play at Australia's best sporting club)...he has played TWO GAMES for his new side...we also, recruited him for his finals experience hence his fitness program probably peaks in the second half of the season

and as for his kicking...didn't look too bad when he was one of our leading goal kickers pre season...

 

[the_fresh]

wow..is that why you offered him a new contract....wait...according to your umpire golden boy captain he walked out on his contract...lol at your three things in modern football too...hard running accountability?..lol..that sounds like a good criteria for your anti Ball rant....who gets the Ball out to these modern day footballers with their clean foot skills and quick Ball movement?????????

Saints posters p off...we don't care what he did when he played with you...we don't even care what you think....

what we care about is he plays the role (thats right he has a specific role to play at Australia's best sporting club)...he has played TWO GAMES for his new side...we also, recruited him for his finals experience hence his fitness program probably peaks in the second half of the season

and as for his kicking...didn't look too bad when he was one of our leading goal kickers pre season...

we're the biggest, not the best.

 

[Quicky]

Ball's pre-season has been good, and we didn't get him to burn down the middle to kick pinpoint 50 metre passes. Ball is there to get the ball and dish it out.

It's going to be a matter of managing his fitness and improving his disposal. Fine tuning, not a radical overhaul.

As I think Didaka has mentioned he needs to play to his strengths and limitations. He just shouldn't be the guy delvering into the forward 50. I don't think his teammates helped him out against Melbourne, I saw on a few occasions players handball off to him leaving him to kick inside 50. Thats just dumb football.