Luke Ball

[Marc Shmurf 3]

Just interested in your opinions on Bally. Taken at no. 2 in the 2001 superdraft and i was just interested to see what St.Kilda supporters think of him up till now. No suprise but Juddy is a fair way in front of him (and most other player in the comp) but i think that Bally is ahead of Hodge (not that it has any baring in my oppinion but i cant stand Hodge).
Are your patients beginning to run out with his grion probs? I have never seen a player that fights through the pain barrier as much and as well as he does. As you can see im a Carlton fan but id love to have him in our footy side any day of the year, even with his problems.
Your thought guys

Cheers

 

[The Punter]

Firstly, am I the only one who notices how much Carlton supporters live vicariously through other team's boards?

On to Luke Ball, he is a champion. He won our 2005 B&F (and despite us winning only one premiership in 110 years, we have rarely had dud B&F winners. Look at the from 1990 until now Loewe, Lockett, Harvey, Burke, Harvey, Winmar, Burke, Harvey, Harvey, Burke, Thompson, Everitt, Riewoldt, Hayes, Riewoldt, Ball & Baker, Riewoldt. No David Teague among that bunch) and captain our team bravely this year despite being obviously injured.

Judd wasn't picked #1 in 2001 because of injury concerns. West Coast nearly didn't pick him, and intelligence indicates that the Dockers wouldn't have picked him at #4. Hodge would be a little behind Ball at this stage, having not played finals yet. Ball has played six finals, with a tremendous performance in the 2004 Preliminary Final v Port Adelaide.

When there is so much talent at one draft, it becomes a pretty inexact science, with teams drafting for need as there is so much talent around. This was the case in 2001, and all St Kilda supporters are happy with Luke Ball.

 

[bob down]

Judd wasn't picked #1 in 2001 because of injury concerns. West Coast nearly didn't pick him, and intelligence indicates that the Dockers wouldn't have picked him at #4. Hodge would be a little behind Ball at this stage, having not played finals yet. Ball has played six finals, with a tremendous performance in the 2004 Preliminary Final v Port Adelaide.

Had Judd injured his shoulder and missed 12 weeks mid year, all recruiters would be saying I told you so. Luckily, he did it with one quarter of the season to play. Ball is a good player, but his kicking lets him down. Not in the Judd league but just an above average player in my opinion.

 

[Otiman]

Ball has been the #1 ball-getter in the second half of the Saints season, with no ruckman. I think we won 11 of the last 13 games prior to the finals. (losses to WCE at TD, and Freo in Perth)

He is also recovering from OP/Adductor/Groin injury that saw his kicking length suffer (there was a point where he couldn't kick 30 metres) but he soldiered on and his footy skills let him win the ball.

I think his "OP" has been around for the last 2 years, and whilst not an excuse for not being as good as judd (does anyone!?), it proves he still has significant improvement in him when he gets his body right.

 

[panthers]

Luke Ball = CHAMPION

 

[*PAFC*13]

He's also probably one of the nicest blokes you will ever meet too.

 

[CrazyQ]

Freak.

No other word. If St.Kilda had to chose a captain, they would choose Nick. They would be very wrong, Luke Ball is one of the best leaders in the AFL, and he is only 22 years old. He can kick off both feet over 45+ however this year he couldnt left his leg due to OP. Run 100 in just over 11 seconds, doesnt show his speed in games, but he does use it when it matters.

Best tackler you will ever see and his consistent efforts make up for his amount of goals kicked.

Keep him, because he wont leave. 100%.

 

[Gary Shadforth]

We'll have Bally over at Hawthorn. We are good at working on groins .

 

[Oh When the Saints]

Absolute champion. Remember Hodge and Judd have had 12 months longer at AFL clubs than Bally ...

Ball has won a B&F, been All-Australian, played in 6 finals and was top 3 for tackles in the AFL last year.

By anyone's standards, that is an awful lot to achieve by the age of 21.

Watch him tear it up in 2007 ... I would take Bally over Hodge every day ...

 

[DannyJ]

Hodge >>>>>> Ball

I would rather Luke(Hodge) because he can kick 60m compared to L. Ball 40-45. He is bigger, can play in more positions, better in the air, and is very hard at it.

Ball shows great courage and determination and is a star player, but saying he is better than Hodge is not the true reflection.

 

[sainter]

Hodge >>>>>> Ball

Ball shows great courage and determination and is a star player, but saying he is better than Hodge is not the true reflection.

.........in your opinion.

I would rather Luke(Hodge) because he can kick 60m compared to L. Ball 40-45.

If you think Ball can only kick the footy 40-45 metres you haven't watched him play before this season. As our other supporters have said he had lost much of the strength and power in his legs due to the groin injury.

He is bigger

Good thing he's a midfielder.

can play in more positions

Midfielder

better in the air

Midfielder

and is very hard at it

No-one is harder at the footy than Luke Ball.

Both are fantastic players but you'd be hard pressed finding a St Kilda supporter that would agree with you on this one so I'd save my breath.

 

[DannyJ]

.........in your opinion.



If you think Ball can only kick the footy 40-45 metres you haven't watched him play before this season. As our other supporters have said he had lost much of the strength and power in his legs due to the groin injury.



Good thing he's a midfielder.



Midfielder



Midfielder



No-one is harder at the footy than Luke Ball.


Both are fantastic players but you'd be hard pressed finding a St Kilda supporter that would agree with you on this one so I'd save my breath.

It's the only thing Ball has over Hodge. In saying that Hodge is in the top 10 hard players in the comp.

Either way you can't compare Luke Ball's kick against Hodges.

Obviosly those attributes(in the air etc) arn't that important to you, because he's a midfielder, still they are important to have and help you during the crunch times in big matches ( Yes Ball has played in 2 prelim finals blahblahblah...if Hodge had Riewoldt to hit as well, the Riewy would get more ball than he does now, even though it's still a lot), basically being good in the air is a bonus being a midfielder, a big one at that. Versatility is also a bonus as well, if Ball could rest in the forward line, he would have done so when playing through injury which would have meant better performances.

I acknowledge that I won't find a St. Kilda supporter to say Ball not as good as Hodge, maybe due to your team set-up.

But as a pure individual Hodge is the better footballer, don't get me wrong Ball is a gun, I think Hodge is just a superstar.

 

[sainter]

Ball did spend a bit of time in the forward line this year but you really can't judge him on anything he did this season.

Hodge is one of the best kicks in the league. I've got no problem with agreeing you on that. Had you not tried to tell us that Ball could only kick 40 metres we wouldn't be disagreeing on that point.

I don't want to be drawn into who is the better player because only time will determine that.

Invariably any thread about an early draft selection descends into a comparison on which club chose the best player. Our supporters have had to put up with being told that we stuffed up selecting Goddard over Wells for years. Interestingly those threads weren't so prevalent last season.

Hopefully both players have put their injuries behind them and we can enjoy them in full flight for many seasons.

 

[dalla]

luke ball is a gun. so courageous. i can't wait till he's fit and then he'll show the afl world wat a star he is. great leadership qualities.
i hope our new coach makes lenny hayes captain because he is an out and out star an is in the top 3 midfielders in the comp. judd. hayes, goodwin, west.

 

[DannyJ]

Ball did spend a bit of time in the forward line this year but you really can't judge him on anything he did this season.

Hodge is one of the best kicks in the league. I've got no problem with agreeing you on that. Had you not tried to tell us that Ball could only kick 40 metres we wouldn't be disagreeing on that point.

I don't want to be drawn into who is the better player because only time will determine that.

Invariably any thread about an early draft selection descends into a comparison on which club chose the best player. Our supporters have had to put up with being told that we stuffed up selecting Goddard over Wells for years. Interestingly those threads weren't so prevalent last season.

Hopefully both players have put their injuries behind them and we can enjoy them in full flight for many seasons.

 

[m.diddy]

The whole year this year he has been battling away with his OP/abdominal injuries, give him a full pre season, and lenny hayes to help in the middle and he'll be back to 2005 form.

 

[i_love_aaronh]

Perhaps, but how much influence can a player like lenny, returning from serious injury, really be? His confidence will probably not be at an all-time high, and there needs to be more support coming from all over the ground for the team to improve.