Ball for Melbourne in the PSD?

[Guest Digga]

We want Balls !

lol

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

It's his over analytical personality usually brought on by a lifetime of not being accepted by his fellow peers in school and worklife.

Like someone said here a few days ago, demonland was a much better place when he was away for a few weeks.

Keep fishing sweetie.

Always waiting for you to actually contribute something rather than sniping (or is it bitching).

Give it a try.

It's dependent on when his contract ends. If he doesn't have a binding contract prior to list lodgement, he automatically is delisted & if he nominates, he'll go into both drafts.

Dont all contracts end on 31 October?

If we can't land Ball in the PSD then heads should roll. We must have the money to pay him. He will be our no 1 midfielder and he will be able to show the 2 best kids in the draft how it's done or he can stay at St Kilda where he has clearly fallen out with Lyon who doesn't rate him.

A big name player is just what this club needs, he is great at clearances and we are the worst team at that so we definately need him. If we can't land him then I'll have to ask what is the club doing? I'm getting sick and tired of this club not being able to land quality experienced players.

Hyperbole.

I am happy to get him but if the player does not want to come to the Club which people should be sacked? And what would that achieve? Just advertise more turmoil. Great.

We want Balls !

lol

Sophisticated aren't we? I guess we know where you stand now.

[sylvinator 96]

I want Luke Ball!

He is better player than Mclean- just look at how he played in the GF- 22 possies with 50% game time. With 100% game time you're looking at Dane Swan numbers. He is a good player, good leadership and has neat skills (though lacks a penetrating kick).

He's still young 25, and therefore will be a quality experienced player when we hit finals in 2011 or 2012.

No doubt Ball is worth a first round pick... getting him in the PSD would essentially mean 5 first rounders this year (1,2,11,18 and Ball).

If we can't get Ball, i'm still very interested in Jesse Smith and Joel McDonald. Both are rebounding defenders and are young. I feel we really need a quality rebounding defender to complement our Key position defenders

[drdrake 3,066]

Is he the best out off contract player available? At the moment and as far I as know yes

How old? 25yo

Is his body right? Looked OK to me in the grand final

Will he add something to our club? Yes, leadership and ability

Can we get him? going from the top team to the bottom will be tough, but if he stays with St Kilda will he play much next year

If we can agree to terms with him and he is willing to play for us sign him up. We have been lucky with Jurrah and Martin over the past two years, this guy isn't an unknown he is a best and Fairest winner still has 5-7 years left a pick two in a super drafted get him. What a draft period it would be

Scully, Trengove,, KPP, KPP, KPP and Ball in the PSS three high quality midfielders and with pick 11, 18, 34 three keys that hopefully a couple will be good.

[LITTLE STINGA 1]

Like the guy as a player, but I'm really not convinced he's right for us. If his aim is to play in a premiership (which it seems to be), then his unwillingness to consider anything other than a side whose "premiership window" is already open may mean that he just doesn't see his body holding out until a 4-6-year "premiership window" period like ours.

Also, he'd be taking 15-22 games (barring injury) away from the younger mids that we badly need to get game time into.

This might not be a problem if he was the type of mid we need, but he's not.

No point now in attracting a "name" just for the sake of it. Much smarter to get a lesser player in the PSD who fills a need.

Firstly you can't predict premiership windows remember Buckley and Colbert, who would of thought at the start of the year that Hawthorn wouldn't make the finals and this year some of their games were as bad if not worse than any performance we dished up this year and there is usually one team that won't perform to expectations that are currently in the top 4.

Secondly we are about the youngest team in the comp kids will be getting games.

Thirdly considering we are the worst clerance team in the comp I thought we would need clearance players and that is exactly what he is.

[Choko 493]

Keep fishing sweetie.

Always waiting for you to actually contribute something rather than sniping (or is it bitching).

Give it a try.

Dont all contracts end on 31 October?

Hyperbole.

I am happy to get him but if the player does not want to come to the Club which people should be sacked? And what would that achieve? Just advertise more turmoil. Great.

Sophisticated aren't we? I guess we know where you stand now.

Again, when did Ball say he didn't want to play at the MFC?

[titan_uranus 23,258]

He is better player than Mclean- just look at how he played in the GF- 22 possies with 50% game time. With 100% game time you're looking at Dane Swan numbers. He is a good player, good leadership and has neat skills (though lacks a penetrating kick).

I don't think he has 'neat skills'. I think his kicking is on the whole pretty poor, not just lacking penetration but also accuracy. He doesn't kick many goals, either. But he is a leader, a contested ball winner, a good player in the wet, and strong. Whether we need another player like that, well that's up for debate.

If we can't get Ball, i'm still very interested in Jesse Smith and Joel McDonald. Both are rebounding defenders and are young. I feel we really need a quality rebounding defender to complement our Key position defenders

McDonald I'm not so sure about, but I reckon Smith is a very, very good player. He'd be a monty for us if it wasn't for his injury problems (of course, if it wasn't for his injuries he wouldn't be in this position anyway), so if the FD is willing to consider having a player on the list who is no certainty to ever be fit enough, then maybe they'll consider him. North hasn't announced yet if he's going to stay with them or not, though, so he mightn't be available.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Again, when did Ball say he didn't want to play at the MFC?

As far as I am aware today is not our first approach to Ball and thus far he has not been interested. Just maybe now....

[H_T 2,941]

Fail.

Incorrect.

Someone from Collingwood on SEN right now:

'Hamstrung' in regards to picks. Simply couldn't find a deal that satisfied the Saints. Will possibly consider drafting in the ND, but really doesn't want to comment on that. Admits that there are 2 drafts to come, could well still end up at Collingwood.

[LITTLE STINGA 1]

Hyperbole.

I am happy to get him but if the player does not want to come to the Club which people should be sacked? And what would that achieve? Just advertise more turmoil. Great.

If we don't get Ball I would like to know what high profile people like Connelly have actually done to make us more attractive to players who want to leave their club.

[QueenC 74]

Again, when did Ball say he didn't want to play at the MFC?

He hasn't said that he won't, but he hasn't said that he will either......

Right now it is pure and utter speculation about whether we will end up being a destination of choice for him if he chooses to go into the drafts.

And I don't think Rhino is saying that it definitively won't happen, but the reality is (which unfortunately is what it is now, but should change in years to come) that we are not the most wondrous of first choice destinations for a player of Balls stature and career objectives, so there is still a lot of water to go through yet before we get this particular player to the red and blue.

If he chooses to play for us and nominate for the PSD, excellent, but we aren't there yet !!!

[Ryan Dee 140]

Incorrect.

Poor poor poor attempt.

You know you were talking about the trade period.

[QueenC 74]

If we don't get Ball I would like to know what high profile people like Connelly have actually done to make us more attractive to players who want to leave their club.

Winning, stable facilities and an increase in continued success should change attitudes......

And that takes time, but right now we (Connelly, Bailey etc) can sell this clubs good points till we are blue (and red) in the face, but back to back wooden spoons does not help the cause.

Give it some time, things will change !!!

[titan_uranus 23,258]

And I don't think Rhino is saying that it definitively won't happen, but the reality is (which unfortunately is what it is now, but should change in years to come) that we are not the most wondrous of first choice destinations for a player of Balls stature and career objectives, so there is still a lot of water to go through yet before we get this particular player to the red and blue.

This basically sums the situation up pretty nicely.

Similarly, from Jon Ralph's article in the HUN: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/not-...f-1225784582705

As leading agent Paul Connors said on Melbourne radio yesterday: "No one wants to play at Port Adelaide. It's as simple as that."

Ditto at Dean Bailey's Melbourne, which at least has only its parlous on-field fortunes to blame for its lack of pulling power.

The Demons will be elite in 3-5 seasons, but if you land there now, you have very little chance of improving your reputation in the upcoming years of struggle.

More than ever before in this most fascinating of trade weeks, the bottom four clubs just can't get their man.

Edited October 9, 2009 by titan_uranus

[Choko 493]

If we don't get Ball I would like to know what high profile people like Connelly have actually done to make us more attractive to players who want to leave their club.

He's obviously not that high profile if you can't even spell his name!

But the reality is you need spin and smoke and mirrors to convince players to come to Melbourne. We are the worst team in the AFL (I don't actually think that but hey, the ladder says so), one of the poorest, with an extremely small supporter base, an Interim President, a base miles away with another one maybe on the way eventually. We are making a lot of steps in the right direction, as did the Bulldogs, it's just that the dogs are about 5 yrs or more ahead of us in their off-field revolution. So in short, why would a player choose us if they have a choice?

[DemonDave 1,078]

Who am I?

-I was picked in the Top 5 of my draft.

-I am very good at clearances.

-My pace is considered questionable for AFL football.

-I average one of the best posessions per minute in the league when on the ground.

-I am approaching what they call 'the prime' of my career (generally regarded as when you're 24-27), yet many say my best football is behind me.

-I was very popular among my teammates.

-In this years offseason I requested a trade to a high-profile club.

A ) Luke Ball

B ) Brock McLean

C ) both of the above

Edited October 9, 2009 by DemonDave

[classy dees 42]

Always waiting for you to actually contribute something rather than sniping (or is it bitching).

no offence rhino, but you are hardly one to be able to have a crack at others for sniping.

He hasn't said that he won't, but he hasn't said that he will either......

....

If he chooses to play for us and nominate for the PSD, excellent, but we aren't there yet !!!

up until now he has wanted to play for collingwood. now that that is not a likely scenario things change ... it is a completely different trade-off.

your last statement sums it up nicely.

[pitmaster 3,162]

Again, when did Ball say he didn't want to play at the MFC?

That's implied by him wanting to go to the woods - but now his options are narrowing.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

If we don't get Ball I would like to know what high profile people like Connelly have actually done to make us more attractive to players who want to leave their club.

You cant work that out.

Well then.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 10,493]

Who am I?

-I was picked in the Top 5 of my draft.

-I am very good at clearances.

-My pace is considered questionable for AFL football.

-I average one of the best posessions per minute in the league when on the ground.

-I am approaching what they call 'the prime' of my career (generally regarded as when you're 24-27), yet many say my best football is behind me.

-I was very popular among my teammates.

-In this years offseason I requested a trade to a high-profile club.

A ) Luke Ball

B ) Brock McLean

C ) both of the above

A Only

Edited October 9, 2009 by big_red_fire_engine

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

no offence rhino, but you are hardly one to be able to have a crack at others for sniping.

And clearly neither are they.

[Redleg 38,706]

The fact that St. Kilda has withdrawn its offer to ball and in the words of its coach, will offer him a reduced one should be enough to stop him returning. If we want him we should convince him to go in PSD.

Edited October 9, 2009 by Redleg

[H_T 2,941]

The fact that St. Kilda has withdrawn its offer to ball and in the word of its coach, will offer him a reduced one should be enough to stop him returning. If we want him we should convince him to go in PSD.

Has a couple of months to sleep on it. Unless he nom.'s for the ND.

[grazman 6,750]

The fact that St. Kilda has withdrawn its offer to ball and in the word of its coach, will offer him a reduced one should be enough to stop him returning. If we want him we should convince him to go in PSD.

I agree. It'd be a bitter pill to swallow for Ball to go back to the Saints and the ND provides too many uncertainties in terms of the intentions of interstate clubs (Essendon would snap him up at 26 before the Pies anyway). I think the most logical thing (certainly in terms of remuneration ) is to come to us. I hope he sees it the same way.

[LITTLE STINGA 1]

You cant work that out.

Well then.

So we should be happy with that then just concede that we are a crap club and nobody wants to come to us. In '97 we were a crap club, in '98 we recruited White and Shanahan suddenly we weren't a crap team. The club should be trying to grab the best players Ball is clearly the best unsigned player we should be moving heaven and earth to entise Ball to the club not concede like you always do.

Happy now Rhino

Edited October 9, 2009 by BROCKSTAR5