Luke Ball: Essential?

[daics cousin]

I'm not too fussed either way. but it would be interesting if we grabbed both McDonald in the PSD and Ball in the ND

WRONG

Ball =Collingwood
Macdonald= fremantle

 

[Spirit of 39]

This is probably the smartest thread that a melbourne supporter has made,about the luke ball saga.

No disrespect, but your opinion counts for nought on this topic. Your narrow-sighted, biased views on the Ball saga have been rubbish.

 

[DeesFan]

WRONG

Ball =Collingwood
Macdonald= fremantle

So how are Freo going to get two picks in the PSD .. aren't they looking at Mc Phee so how are they going to get both?

Why dont Collingwod supporters face facts - if Melbourne want him they will get him .. no questions asked. The fact he may want to go to the Pies doesnt even come into it - I bet 50 odd players picked up in this years draft wont go to where they want too.

Let it go if it happens you are lucky if not .. you can bag Ball when you play the Dee's

 

[Bails2008]

This is probably the smartest thread that a melbourne supporter has made,about the luke ball saga.

Quote:
Originally Posted by generalstraw
I'm not too fussed either way. but it would be interesting if we grabbed both McDonald in the PSD and Ball in the ND

WRONG

Ball =Collingwood
Macdonald= fremantle

Sadly this is about as smart as we have got from most collingwood supporters. If Melbourne wan't either player they will get either simple as that genius

 

[Dez!]

No.

No picks in the National Draft on Ball, it's a waste.

Also getting Joel MacDonald serves absolutely no purpose for us, get Mitch Thorp in the PSD.

 

[The Dr]

No.

No picks in the National Draft on Ball, it's a waste.

Also getting Joel MacDonald serves absolutely no purpose for us, get Mitch Thorp in the PSD.

Agreed. MacDonald may be the better player right now, but we have plenty of his type. Thorp really fills an area of utter need so we should go for him despite the risks.

Getting four quality early picks in the ND can give us a chance to be a bit more speculative with the PSD. It's worked in the past - Stefan Martin and LJ - so lets hope it works again with Thorp.

 

[Mr Rude]

A fit up and running Luke Ball is worth 500k, todays Luke Ball is worth about 350k IMO.

We will be paying huge overs if we pick him.

All this talk about we lack leadership to me is the only reason we are looking at him. Do the head honcho's really think we are that shallow on leaders?

Brent Moloney this past season has been superb on the field and off it (think b&f night). He would make an absolutley outstanding captain.

Have Beamer captain after Junior leaves next year.

Colin Sylvia made huge strides last year again both on and off the field and i think making him part of the leadership group next year would only improve him further. Add to that Jack Grimes who has been touted as a leader from day one when he walked into the club and you have your future leaders right there.

If we are going to pay overs for Ball the people responsible for it better be sure his is fit enough to waste a good draft pick on.

If you ask me we have leaders at this club already who just because they havent been given the chance doesnt mean they cant do a better job than Ball.

 

[The Uncle]

First of all the money isn't a problem as we are already 500K short of the minimum salary cap, so in many ways we need Luke Ball, otherwise we just end up over paying existing players. To say that it would insult players if we paid him 500k or if he captained is just rubbish. I can't remember hearing anything but praise for Chris Judd when he took over as captain of Carlton, not to mention the fact he was getting paid more than double what we will offer Ball. The fact of the matter is Melbourne is crying out for a leader not only in the midfield but for the team in general. If we picked Luke Ball at pick 18 it would be the biggest steal in draft history. 22 touches in less than half a game in the grand final is a perfect example of the skill this player still possess. Whether Melbourne is his first choice or not is irrelevant, if we pick him up he is a professional athlete who will get on with the job. Ryan O'Keefe publically tried to leave Sydney and when all fell through he still came out this year and had one of his best seasons, players are still entitled to say where they would ideally like to end up.

 

[The Professor]

First of all the money isn't a problem as we are already 500K short of the minimum salary cap, so in many ways we need Luke Ball, otherwise we just end up over paying existing players. To say that it would insult players if we paid him 500k or if he captained is just rubbish. I can't remember hearing anything but praise for Chris Judd when he took over as captain of Carlton, not to mention the fact he was getting paid more than double what we will offer Ball. The fact of the matter is Melbourne is crying out for a leader not only in the midfield but for the team in general. If we picked Luke Ball at pick 18 it would be the biggest steal in draft history. 22 touches in less than half a game in the grand final is a perfect example of the skill this player still possess.

500K is a bit much for Ball. 350-400K is the mark but you have to pay a bit more to get players to move and apparently Ball's contract request has been front ended so i'm not too worried about the money.

Secondly we don't overpay existing players, we just front load their contracts and seriously who drafts a player to fill up the salary cap. Bad argument.

Third. Ball isn't Judd. End of argument there.

Fourth. Ball got 22 touches in GF. How many would he get if the sun is out and the G is a dry track. Would Lyon give him less then 48% TOG? Do we hope every MFc game, it rains?

He's kicking and pace is still an issue and just because he's the best free agent out there, doesn't mean he's a great player.

He is not worth Pick 18.

 

[Andy_Mac]

500K is a bit much for Ball. 350-400K is the mark but you have to pay a bit more to get players to move and apparently Ball's contract request has been front ended so i'm not too worried about the money.

Secondly we don't overpay existing players, we just front load their contracts and seriously who drafts a player to fill up the salary cap. Bad argument.

Third. Ball isn't Judd. End of argument there.

Fourth. Ball got 22 touches in GF. How many would he get if the sun is out and the G is a dry track. Would Lyon give him less then 48% TOG? Do we hope every MFc game, it rains?

He's kicking and pace is still an issue and just because he's the best free agent out there, doesn't mean he's a great player.

He is not worth Pick 18.

If luke ball is a 350-400k a year player he is well and truely worth pick 18.

If he is the best availible, as I suspect he will be, we will draft him. 25 yo former captain, B&F and a AA. How is he not worth P18?

 

[DeesFan]

If Ball is not worth pick 18 then how good of a deal as McLean .. Ball in all area's is better than McLean but now Ball is not worth a better pick?

He might not be a Judd but he will have the same affect on the young list i.e. work ethic. He is a good player I bet every team would have him if they coul afford him .. Melb can and we should. Then we can get Bradshaw in the PSD (just kidding) but we can get another person in the 25 yo bracket that will help drive us to finals footy.

 

[FOOOOTY]

First of all the money isn't a problem as we are already 500K short of the minimum salary cap, so in many ways we need Luke Ball, otherwise we just end up over paying existing players. To say that it would insult players if we paid him 500k or if he captained is just rubbish.

If he wanted to be in Red&blue, he wouldnt be in the ND. whatever happens, happens - but preferably you wants people who want to be with your club rather then forcing them there.

 

[The Professor]

If luke ball is a 350-400k a year player he is well and truely worth pick 18.

If he is the best availible, as I suspect he will be, we will draft him. 25 yo former captain, B&F and a AA. How is he not worth P18?

If he truly is best available, fine but it looks likely that at Pick 18, there will still be talent available.

Ball's a solid/good player but he isn't a great fit for MFC.

You will never convince me that Moloney, Jones and Ball will work. If Ball came for free, i try to work it out but not at an expense of a young player who we could use on a tall. A carlisle, Black, Grittfiths, Panos.

Ball isn't a pivotal player in our pursuit for the premiership. He's a nice player who would be a bonus if we can get him on the cheap. 18 isn't cheap.

 

[Andy_Mac]

See I think he is. At his best he is better than moloney and jones, but its what he will bring in terms of work ethic and leadership off the field that scully, blease, trengove and the other young boys will learn off him.

As for other options at 18 I agree with the need for another tall despite any thorp talk. If we took Talia at 11 and say Black was around at 18 (or vise versa) then maybe ball isn't best availible.

 

[demonfan9]

I'm starting to see the other side of the coin in this whole situation, that we'd be stupid not to take him. Just because Collingwood is his first preference, doesn't mean that other clubs will let him pass. So why should we be any different? He chose not to enter the PSD because he wanted to take his chances in the ND. Fair enough, his preference is Collingwood so he had to take a risk. If he doesn't get there, I'm sure he will still pull up his socks and perform for his new club, no matter who it is. And I think it's about time our club made a statement and landed a quality player.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

I am struggling to understand the "he doesn't wan't to play for us arguement". Different if this was free agency and you can pick and choose where you play. It is not. He is a professional footballer. If we think he is the best available player bloody well pick him. Its about time we landed a big fish. Pick him and take a chance. Once he gets into the club, we start winning games, our young players develop and we look like playing finals do you think he will walk? I doubt it. Why don't we for once in our bloody lives as a football club back ourselves in. Lets back our rebuild, our system, our list, our structures and the direction we are going.

Exactly. I don't really get this argument either. If Ball is available and there aren't any better options we can choose, then choose him!

Seems to me like some people are taking the approach that we should cut off our noses to spite our faces in this instance...