vergs
Team Captain
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- Oct 30, 2002
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- St.Kilda
Saint makes a habit of being top of class
By Karen Lyon
December 20 2002
This week, Luke Ball passed his VCE with flying colours. Now, the St Kilda recruit is ready for another test - to see how he stacks up against the best footballers in the country.
As the No. 2 pick in last year's national draft, Ball walked into football with hefty expectations on his young shoulders but he was unable to make his debut when a bout of osteitis pubis hit before the start of the year.
A part-time footballer in 2002, restricted to three days a week training at the club, Ball, 18, is hoping for a change of roles in the coming year. With a VCE score of 98.8, he is hoping to study commerce-law at Monash University part-time, while concentrating full-time on the game.
"I love my footy. I was pretty much having a year off last year in terms of playing, so I am raring to go," he said yesterday after completing a bike ride along Beach Road to Beaumaris.
Pre-season training has been well planned for the teenager to make sure he doesn't have a relapse of the condition.
"We are just being a bit more careful before Christmas this year. Last year I sort of rushed into everything and that is when it flared up," he said. "After Christmas I will get stuck into it full-on."
Although he has been with the Saints for a year, Ball feels like a new recruit - one with the advantage of already knowing everybody. His major goal in 2003 is to make his debut.
"I suppose we all set ourselves for round one and that is probably a goal of mine. With so many of the young blokes that I got drafted with last year playing, and playing so well, I just can't wait to get my chance as soon as possible," he said.
He felt the frustration of not playing in 2002 while fellow draftees prospered and would like to show Saints fans why he was rated so highly by the club.
"On one hand you are really happy for them and it is great to see them going so well and you think, 'If they can cope with it then hopefully, because you have played with them and against them, then hopefully you can stand up to the level as well.'
"On the other hand it is frustrating sitting there watching them. It is just patience, I suppose, and hopefully my time will come.
"You wouldn't hear it much but you just know the supporters having the question mark in their head: 'OK, we have got this high draft pick and what is he doing; he is not playing.' Whereas if I was playing I would be able to show them why they picked me at No. 2."
After a successful year at Xavier College, Ball would like to repay the faith the Saints have shown in him.
"They have put a bit of time in, they have been good to me, now I have finished off my school and now I want to pay them back a bit and the supporters and the only way to do it is to get out there and get a kick."
Last weekend, Ball spent three days with some of the best young football talent in the country when St Kilda's draft picks from the past three seasons went hiking together through the Grampians.
"It was a test of the old mental toughness. We did a fair bit of walking. It was more like a survivor camp, actually. We had to split into two teams and find our respective marks with a map and not much else. It was a real good test," he said.
The young list with so much potential is getting used to the expectations of the football world, coach Grant Thomas making it clear that their fate is in their own hands.
"We seem to be getting into the papers every day but 'Thommo' has made it clear to us, 'You can have all the potential in the world but if you are not going to do anything with it, it means nothing.'
"There should be enough there to take the club somewhere but it all comes down to us."
By Karen Lyon
December 20 2002
This week, Luke Ball passed his VCE with flying colours. Now, the St Kilda recruit is ready for another test - to see how he stacks up against the best footballers in the country.
As the No. 2 pick in last year's national draft, Ball walked into football with hefty expectations on his young shoulders but he was unable to make his debut when a bout of osteitis pubis hit before the start of the year.
A part-time footballer in 2002, restricted to three days a week training at the club, Ball, 18, is hoping for a change of roles in the coming year. With a VCE score of 98.8, he is hoping to study commerce-law at Monash University part-time, while concentrating full-time on the game.
"I love my footy. I was pretty much having a year off last year in terms of playing, so I am raring to go," he said yesterday after completing a bike ride along Beach Road to Beaumaris.
Pre-season training has been well planned for the teenager to make sure he doesn't have a relapse of the condition.
"We are just being a bit more careful before Christmas this year. Last year I sort of rushed into everything and that is when it flared up," he said. "After Christmas I will get stuck into it full-on."
Although he has been with the Saints for a year, Ball feels like a new recruit - one with the advantage of already knowing everybody. His major goal in 2003 is to make his debut.
"I suppose we all set ourselves for round one and that is probably a goal of mine. With so many of the young blokes that I got drafted with last year playing, and playing so well, I just can't wait to get my chance as soon as possible," he said.
He felt the frustration of not playing in 2002 while fellow draftees prospered and would like to show Saints fans why he was rated so highly by the club.
"On one hand you are really happy for them and it is great to see them going so well and you think, 'If they can cope with it then hopefully, because you have played with them and against them, then hopefully you can stand up to the level as well.'
"On the other hand it is frustrating sitting there watching them. It is just patience, I suppose, and hopefully my time will come.
"You wouldn't hear it much but you just know the supporters having the question mark in their head: 'OK, we have got this high draft pick and what is he doing; he is not playing.' Whereas if I was playing I would be able to show them why they picked me at No. 2."
After a successful year at Xavier College, Ball would like to repay the faith the Saints have shown in him.
"They have put a bit of time in, they have been good to me, now I have finished off my school and now I want to pay them back a bit and the supporters and the only way to do it is to get out there and get a kick."
Last weekend, Ball spent three days with some of the best young football talent in the country when St Kilda's draft picks from the past three seasons went hiking together through the Grampians.
"It was a test of the old mental toughness. We did a fair bit of walking. It was more like a survivor camp, actually. We had to split into two teams and find our respective marks with a map and not much else. It was a real good test," he said.
The young list with so much potential is getting used to the expectations of the football world, coach Grant Thomas making it clear that their fate is in their own hands.
"We seem to be getting into the papers every day but 'Thommo' has made it clear to us, 'You can have all the potential in the world but if you are not going to do anything with it, it means nothing.'
"There should be enough there to take the club somewhere but it all comes down to us."
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