Luke Ball

[StFly]

But.. but... KS said he wa sover his OP, he was over the problems and he would have a super duper terriffic year! She... she... lied?

I can't take this anymore, my entire concept of reality is shattered beyond recovery. GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD!

but no, I jest, you limit game time becaus ea player is carrying an injury or ineffective, this is common sense.

 

[bubblegoose]

Oh but why did he only have 40% game time?

But.. but... KS said he wa sover his OP, he was over the problems and he would have a super duper terriffic year! She... she... lied?

I can't take this anymore, my entire concept of reality is shattered beyond recovery. GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD!

but no, I jest, you limit game time becaus ea player is carrying an injury or ineffective, this is common sense.

 

[CHBench]

Is my sarcasm not obvious enough?
I was hoping a certain feral would come in and answer that.

Maybe i should use more smileys next time.

 

[bubblegoose]

Is my sarcasm not obvious enough?
I was hoping a certain feral would come in and answer that.

Maybe i should use more smileys next time.

like a book CHB, u didn't need to respond, i should have winkied after my mock shock

 

[Fehring]

These are the most relevant posts from that Collingwood thread:

Spoke to a collingwood player a couple of weeks ago and he said that his OP isn't great, he is struggling a little, and his aerobic fitness is lacking.

But is work ethic is second to none, and his ability to push through pain barriers is unbelievable.

Fingers crossed we see him in the NAB cup in the black and white tearing up St Kilda's midfield.

I know a guy who works at an AFL club, not Collingwood. He has attended Collingwood training regularly for the past week or two, and has given me some updates on how they're looking. He said Ball is being hampered somewhat by his groin, but is trying to not show it. It didn't look too serious, but it's definitely there.

 

[Cuz2Plugger]

Pretty obvious from above sources that Ball's problems are chronic, ie. they will not get better but will always need to be managed. He will therefore always play with painkillers but these can only do so much cause you cannot prepare/train for games properly with serious chronic pain (that he seems to refer to).

Explains game time issues and most all else.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

I've suspected for a while that he may be in more pain than he lets the public/coach/medical staff know about.
He is a tough nut, and if anyone could hide it he could.

 

[Axcellence]

I've avoided the Luke Ball issue for a while... but I think just to add balance.

1. Luke Ball is a good player. He will perform quite well at collingwood. I will note that in the game against Hawthorn last year, he got 2 brownlow points when he played in sufficient time. I will also quote the following from the collingwood board (as much as I'd prefer not to).

Last Year at St.Kilda before dropped according to the prospectus He ranked 2nd in clearances, 3rd in hard ball gets and tackles. He still finished 3rd in clearances for the year at st kilda even with being dropped. 31% of these ended up as a score the most at St.kilda. This is all with 10 less minutes per game than Hayes.

Note on the score conversion of the clearances. If Ball was doing the clearance, he would hand it to hayes / dal santo / clint to send it forward. Whereas when hayes/dal santo did the clearance, either they had to kick it themselves or give it to Clint/Ball/remainder of above 2 to move it forward. However, no one should ignore Ball's tackling, clearance and hard ball get ability - in those, he is very good.

2. Ball didn't fit St Kilda's game plan anymore. We need fast midfielders who can zone to corrall opposition. Ball can't do that with his leg speed. In fact, his laggard speed means there could be a hole in Collingwood's zone. Expect Collingwood masaacre's to continue at the hand of Geelong/St Kilda/Hawthorn.

3. I won't miss Ball's kicking. Time and again, if he's in the backline, he'll kick it to a 50-50 contest resulting in out of bounds / opposition control, whereas Dal Santo / Fisher will always try & get it to the right player. I won't miss his kicking in the forward line (bar the kick against Geelong last year for MG's goal although ideally he could have run forward & kick it himself.. but again - not a kick at all). He just can't kick far enough or select high % targets. Collingwood's gameplan is outside kick based - expect trouble for them if Ball has to kick. Funny that Buckley is talking about kicking skills... perhaps he should concentrate on Luke Ball.

 

[Fehring]

I've avoided the Luke Ball issue for a while... but I think just to add balance.

1. Luke Ball is a good player. He will perform quite well at collingwood. I will note that in the game against Hawthorn last year, he got 2 brownlow points when he played in sufficient time. I will also quote the following from the collingwood board (as much as I'd prefer not to).



Note on the score conversion of the clearances. If Ball was doing the clearance, he would hand it to hayes / dal santo / clint to send it forward. Whereas when hayes/dal santo did the clearance, either they had to kick it themselves or give it to Clint/Ball/remainder of above 2 to move it forward. However, no one should ignore Ball's tackling, clearance and hard ball get ability - in those, he is very good.

2. Ball didn't fit St Kilda's game plan anymore. We need fast midfielders who can zone to corrall opposition. Ball can't do that with his leg speed. In fact, his laggard speed means there could be a hole in Collingwood's zone. Expect Collingwood masaacre's to continue at the hand of Geelong/St Kilda/Hawthorn.

3. I won't miss Ball's kicking. Time and again, if he's in the backline, he'll kick it to a 50-50 contest resulting in out of bounds / opposition control, whereas Dal Santo / Fisher will always try & get it to the right player. I won't miss his kicking in the forward line (bar the kick against Geelong last year for MG's goal although ideally he could have run forward & kick it himself.. but again - not a kick at all). He just can't kick far enough or select high % targets. Collingwood's gameplan is outside kick based - expect trouble for them if Ball has to kick. Funny that Buckley is talking about kicking skills... perhaps he should concentrate on Luke Ball.

Bang on the money.

 

[the woodsmen2010]

just thought id put this up,luke ball will play against st kilda in nab cup,sorry dont know how to post link but is on pies website....i doubt he is injured,i honestly dont think they would play him if there was any problems....

 

[Kildonan]

Great to see we are in to Win It and Glad they are playing Both Jolly and Ball to get them use the playing the Collingwood Way

I had a giggle at this one, especially the "playing the Collingwood Way" bit.

The press releases suggest Collingwood will field their best squad and it will include their new recruits Jolly and Ball (barring injury etc.).

When has that club ever released a truthful press release ???

Even the mildest of our Saints will admit to having a little bit of aggro built up against Collingwood. They're not happy about the black and white club's dodgy trading morals, nor are they happy about Luke's "defection" to them.

The Saints are a professional outfit - not prone to unnecessary physicality, they just display a professional toughness normally. I bet this game shows more than would be expected of an opening preseason match.

Malthouse will likely pick mainly mature players for this match, hiding his younger players from possible harm.

I suspect we will want to win this match as much to avoid the trip out to Alice Springs for the loser as just wanting to beat Collingwood.
I hope we will field a good many of our youngsters. I want to see how these guys are coming along, many could be pushing for a spot in a team that lost only 3 matches last season. In order to do so - they would have to show a fair bit.

As to Luke Ball playing... if Mick specifically says he will play, then I think there will be a setback for Luke at training in the week before the match for which he'll need just a week to recover from...

 

[Squizz]

On Ball:
"We has leadership abilities and he's a relatively young man. He should be able to play for seven or eight years."

Malthouse yesterday railed at criticism the club traded away its future by drafting for Jolly and Ball, revealing the club's No. 62 selection Ben Sinclair would have been taken at pick 30 had Ball been unavailable. * cough * bullshit * cough *

Need to watch Malthouse's nose to see whether it grows when he talks.

 

[goodie23]

Oh yeah, because age will be the biggest factor in determining the length of Ball's career

 

[bubblegoose]

As to Luke Ball playing... if Mick specifically says he will play, then I think there will be a setback for Luke at training in the week before the match for which he'll need just a week to recover from...

I think bit might be dredged up again K

 

[Fehring]

On Ball:
"We has leadership abilities and he's a relatively young man. He should be able to play for seven or eight years."

Malthouse yesterday railed at criticism the club traded away its future by drafting for Jolly and Ball, revealing the club's No. 62 selection Ben Sinclair would have been taken at pick 30 had Ball been unavailable. * cough * bullshit * cough *

Need to watch Malthouse's nose to see whether it grows when he talks.

Every time I read something like this, I just thing "Aaron Hammill". Malthouse can say whatever he likes, he only needs Ball to get through the next 2 years.

 

[BEEG]

Every time I read something like this, I just thing "Aaron Hammill". Malthouse can say whatever he likes, he only needs Ball to get through the next 2 years.

Happy to take that chance with PICK 30

 

[Fehring]

Happy to take that chance with PICK 30

Which is fine, but you didn't get a bargain like most think.

 

[Squizz]

Happy to take that chance with PICK 30

No shit Einstein.

Even Mick reckons the offer for Ball was equivalent to a cup of cold sick.

"Anyone who remotely suggests we have taken a cheap option to get these players has a fundamental flaw in their perception of the (strength) of the draft."

 

[Fehring]

Nevertheless, I can't wait 'til 12 months time when all of the "experts" who are presently excoriating us for our bad trading are piling onto Mick Malthouse for vainly trying to buy a premiership before being turfed out for Buckers.

'Tho perhaps he won't be looking as stupid as Eade, who is even more desperate right about now.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

Who is this player drafted after pick #30 who apparently would have been the missing link in our premiership quest?

We are still talking about last year's draft, aren't we?

Have a go at Collingwood all you like about trading out of the draft, if you think that was a bad decision, but don't kid yourself that it has anything to do with Mick and his limited tenure at the club. We have an established track record of trading out of weak drafts and into strong drafts, see below;

2006 (the so-called "SuperDraft") - Traded Tarrant to secure an additional 1st rounder (#8), used on Ben Reid, and Medhurst.
2007 (touted as a weak draft, even Wayne Hughes said he'd have taken Naitanui over Kreuzer if eligible) - traded #14 for Cameron Wood.
2008 (the "last uncompromised draft") - Traded Rhyce Shaw to secure 3rd round pick to use on Luke Rounds.
2009 (the "first compromised draft") - Traded #14 and #46 for Darren Jolly and used #30 on Luke Ball.

That's a pretty clear pattern over four years.

 

[Fehring]

Who is this player drafted after pick #30 who apparently would have been the missing link in our premiership quest?

We are still talking about last year's draft, aren't we?

Have a go at Collingwood all you like about trading out of the draft, if you think that was a bad decision, but don't kid yourself that it has anything to do with Mick and his limited tenure at the club. We have an established track record of trading out of weak drafts and into strong drafts, see below;

2006 (the so-called "SuperDraft") - Traded Tarrant to secure an additional 1st rounder (#8), used on Ben Reid, and Medhurst.
2007 (touted as a weak draft, even Wayne Hughes said he'd have taken Naitanui over Kreuzer if eligible) - traded #14 for Cameron Wood.
2008 (the "last uncompromised draft") - Traded Rhyce Shaw to secure 3rd round pick to use on Luke Rounds.
2009 (the "first compromised draft") - Traded #14 and #46 for Darren Jolly and used #30 on Luke Ball.

That's a pretty clear pattern over four years.

You're not on a premiership quest. I'm just looking forward to your slide down the ladder over the next few years. Will be great.

 

[The Royal Sampler]

You're not on a premiership quest. I'm just looking forward to your slide down the ladder over the next few years. Will be great.

Every club in the competition is on a premiership quest. Some are simply on longer quests than others.

 

[Squizz]

Who is this player drafted after pick #30 who apparently would have been the missing link in our premiership quest?

We are still talking about last year's draft, aren't we?

Have a go at Collingwood all you like about trading out of the draft, if you think that was a bad decision.

It's funny how if you step back we have the same view. Pick 30 was not worth much in this draft, so getting Ball was extremely good value at that level. That is why the Saints were within their rights to ask for a better deal. And that is also why many Saints fans hope he does what he's done for years at St Kilda and conceal injury problems and play well below his best each week.

For a quality player like Jolly, who fits a very real need for the bidding club, a pick outside the top 10 seems pretty good value in a weak draft too.

 

[Squizz]

For a quality player like Jolly, who fits a very real need for the bidding club, a pick outside the top 10 seems pretty good value in a weak draft too.

Notwithstanding the ridiculous puff-piece I just read from Magpie-lover Jon Ralph about how Jolly starred in the intra-club game! What a flog - Collingwood chased Jolly just to give their superstar ruckmen a bit of competition???

 

[dg102]

Its a good possibilty we may see Armo v's Ball in the NAB cup.

How can anyone talk negative of R Lyon? He turned this club around from going south down the ladder from 7th to 4th to 1st and a grand final.
He's also revolusionising the game with HIS "frontal pressure" tactics.