Opinion Luke Ball Replacement

[danielnajdek]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

Overrated ??

then u throw up Sinclair as a suggestion

Lol

Must be Sinclair himself.

Putting him into the equation is ridiculous.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

I think he must therefore be underrated in his overratedness. He does a lot more than just crash in and break up possession for the opposition. Really, you could get Karmichael Hunt to do that...

... incidentally, K Hunt played alright last night. Just sayin'.

 

[Nicco_jj]

I probably am a glass half full type because we have plenty of quality- in fact some of the best if not the best quality in the comp.

"Wonderful opportunities" is not in any way downplaying the significance of Ball's departure and injury.

However, somebody will need to stand up and be counted here though. This is where careers can be enhanced, particularly for young players who can go to the next level.

Beams, Wellingham, Blair and Sidebottom- everyone will be looking squarely at them.

My first choice in the centre square starters is Swan, Pendles and Wellingham.

I just don't see wellingham as an inside mid though... dunno why.

 

[Nicco_jj]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

There's already a thread like this that isn't ridiculous

 

[joff]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

fairdinkum sr 36 u think he is overrated dont they show the footy in vietnam

 

[Temploar]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

I personally think that Luke Ball is overrated, but he also may be irreplaceable for the Pies. In my mind, his main role has been to crash in at stoppages and interrupt opposition possession or try to generate some space for his teammates. Can anyone else play this role? Thomas could, but do you really want to use an attacking weapon in that role. The midfield heir-apparents, Beams, Wellingham and Sidebottom, seem unsuited to the role. Blair is more likely, but probably lacks the size to do it. The other likely one for the future is Young, but he's too young. Goldsack has the body type and the intensity, but doesn't have the instincts. Sinclair? Or do we have to alter our midfield set-up and tactics.

Hello Ben Sinclair!

 

[Tippy78]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

Overrated? I think he is underrated!!! Only Cloke and maybe Pendles are as important to our team structure. If we can't find a bullocking in and under player this year we are in some serious trouble.

 

[potchip]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

Yeah, in and under midfielders are everywhere. You just gotta ask the next outside mid 'hey, go under the pack from next game onwards will ya' and problem solved. So overrated as a weapon to have saved our skin twice under the clutch in '10.

Ball is easily top 3. Just replace with Sinclair!

 

[Number 10]

Blair. No question. His junior football he was an absolute gun inside mid. Beams needs more midfield time as well, his kicking inside 50 is the best we have had since didak in 2010.

 

[Macca_]

Blair to play Ball's role and Beams to play more midfield minutes.

This

 

[dayna36]

don't shoot me down...I suppose Marley Williams is a bit too inexperienced to be thrown in the deep end??..hoping he gets elevated he did some nice things in the nab cup ..the other good news is Josh Thomas should play his first game this week ..please get thru unscathed

If simon buckley can't get a game he's in trouble for mine..so forget him coming in..Johnno maybe Brown but keep in mind the ridiculous 4 day turnaround before Anzac day ..everything's against us this year..but we just need to keep going..GO PIES

 

[SnakePlisskin]

Beams Sidebottom and Wellingham are the ones , gutted for Bally .

 

[SnakePlisskin]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

You'll realize how underrated he is next week when we need him.

 

[Heater39]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

Inside mids will be at the top of Hine's priority list for the draft this year I assume. We've got plenty of flanker types, now we need the inside ball winners with a bit of **** in them.

 

[jerry springer]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

How bout all our soft mids just go and win the hard ball,instead of letting a "inside" midfielder get it for them?

If its good enough for Judd and Murphy its good enough for any of our boys

 

[skinnyjim]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

Marley Williams, give him a run, take a punt on him and get rid of Sinclair for christ sake.

 

[SwanBet]

What is wrong with his attitude, what has he said or done that makes you question it?
He got 31 touches in a 10 goal thumping on Friday, way ahead of our next best player.

Not sure where this "poor attitude" thing is coming from.
Sounds like a self fulling internet prophecy thing. i.e, someone says it and a hundred people pile on just to be in on the latest hot issue.

What and you think because he had 31 disposals he was good? no, he was very, very average. Sidebottom was much better. Im not a Swan hater, my name on this site is named after him.

I have been disappointed with him. I question whether you watch him play, there is little to know defensive pressure applied by him, no tackles(1 on the weekend, that is piss weak). He needs to lift, and it is a clear attitude thing, dropped out of the leadership group for reasons unknown(he didn't wan't to be in it).
To me it seems as if all he cares about is getting on the stats sheet.

 

[THATSGOLD]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

Wait for the wet weather to start. You will see how over rated he is when we miss him in around the ground.

 

[Professor Knowall]

Beams Sidebottom and Wellingham are the ones , gutted for Bally .

Agree on both.

As for making the best out of a bad situation, I'd like us to employ Bally for the rest of the season as Rob Harveys "right hand man' in midfield coaching. Seems to me he's got the nouse to add much value to our coaching team..

 

[sr36]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

Jeez I'm copping a caning for this one.

I agree that he'll leave a big hole, but I think that's because we've got noone else who can play his role, not because he's an amazing footballer.

To me Luke Ball is fantastic at crashing in and helping his teamates secure and keep the ball in congestion, but the rest of his game is only middling. His first possession, clearance and contested possession stats aren't amazing for an inside mid. He's not very damaging with the ball. He doesn't win a huge number of possessions. He's not particularly suited to running with and diminishing the output of his direct opponent. To me he is essentially a role player for the Pies, who plays his role very well. I'd liken him to Jolly over the last couple of years - vital to the team, without being an amazing player.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

For those of you hanging out for Josh Thomas' return, temper your expectations. I sat next to him at the airport in the offseason and he is still majorly lacking in size. The best we should hope for is a consistent run in the VFL this year, IMHO.

 

[odoyle_rules]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

Marley Williams, give him a run, take a punt on him and get rid of Sinclair for christ sake.

I agree 100%! In order to improve, we need to bring in fresh talent.

2010 we unveiled Blair from the rookie list, leaving players like Lockyer, Obree etc on the outer. The current senior players are playing without emotion (apart from Cloke)... let's create some competition for positions by bringing in fresh faces.

 

[Markfs]

I would have thought that Blair is the one. Beams would be telling the coach that he could do it, so I would give him a try too.

Ball averaged about 22 or 23 disposals a game last year, got 18 goals and 166 tackles.

I doubt anyone is going to get near his tackle count, so that's a real prob.

Bucks was searching for more options in the midfield and now we've got one less midfielder...its not good. I'm not a big fan of these short people that we've got on the list and I hope we start drafting more midfielders with some size and strength.

 

[jackcass]

Beams best work will be as an inside Mid..Just wait and see ! Another possible replacement will be Josh Thomas once he's back. Also think Jamie Elliot will fill a forward crumber role once he's recovered from the hammy.

Yeah, this. Beams and Josh Thomas clearly the best long term inside bottom of the pack mids on our list. That's not to say that a Marley Williams won't develop in the VFL this year.

Shame Thomas is being crueled by injury. You'd imagine that if he'd have had a trouble free pre-season he'd have 1 or 2 games under his belt already.

 

[blaze036]

Re: Crashing in like Luke Ball

I agree 100%! In order to improve, we need to bring in fresh talent.

2010 we unveiled Blair from the rookie list, leaving players like Lockyer, Obree etc on the outer. The current senior players are playing without emotion (apart from Cloke)... let's create some competition for positions by bringing in fresh faces.

This, i want to see williams, a young ruckmen (not wood) paine and maybe even mooney get some serious game time the rest of this year.