It's now getting messy.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/sa...5019612835.html

I am very keen to hear what Ball has to say. Try and get a gauge on what his intentions may be once he has had a think about it.

Perhaps the lure of guiding and mentoring a young group into contention fo a flag in 4 to 5 years time (maybe even as captain?) may or may not be right for him.

Either that or he wants to chase instant success. I for one think if he puts a huge price on his head then pass on him.

I do personally hope he can see some upside to being at the dees and come out and say "i would love nothing more than to play for such a proud club on the way up"

That is exactly what the dees need!! Otherwise its another fail in trying to land a big fish!!

Forward stack Luke's contract, ie most in year one and decreasing each year. Will suit our cap this year and provide a little more room in following years.

Oh and of course he would be a great pick up for the MFC. Fantastic role model.

If it happens then it would be great get and the best recycled player pick-up since Moloney, but I'm not getting my hopes up over it. He seems keen to move on to a team likely to play finals next year, he will either stay at St Kilda or nominate for the National Draft - and for mine, it's not worth a rebuilding club using any of it's early picks on a 25 year old. It would take something massive for the football department to convince him to knock the Saints back again, knock back the National Draft and only nominate for the PSD. It wont happen, would be amazing if it did, but it wont.

If he goes ND, I can see Essendon with picks 24,26 snapping him up. They are dying for someone to help Watson out in the middle.

Can we convince Ball that we are a better place to go than Essendon - I think we could.

There is no chance he will go in the ND - he is not Stuey Dew - he is 25 and with a resume like Luke Ball's he is likely to get picked by any number of clubs.

Its just too risky for him. He could end up at Port or Freo for chrissakes.

There is no chance he will go in the ND - he is not Stuey Dew - he is 25 and with a resume like Luke Ball's he is likely to get picked by any number of clubs.

Its just too risky for him. He could end up at Port or Freo for chrissakes.

or Sydney.

It depends on whether he's after certainty. What are his priorities? If he wants to earn a good living without leaving Melbourne he'd be rolling the dice going into the PSD.

There is no chance he will go in the ND - he is not Stuey Dew - he is 25 and with a resume like Luke Ball's he is likely to get picked by any number of clubs.

Its just too risky for him. He could end up at Port or Freo for chrissakes.

Fremantle have 20 which would go to a kid and Port don't have a second rounder.

20. Fremantle

21. North Melbourne

22. West Coast

23. West Coast

24. Essendon

25. North Melbourne

26. Essendon

27. Brisbane Lions

28. Geelong

29. Adelaide

30. Collingwood

Lions might be a show if they haven't burnt a hole through their cap. Bumbres would def have a crack at 26 you'd think. North would seriously consider 25.

I can't see how he can get to Collingwood. MFC must get the latest Powerpoint presentation to get this through.

I was thinking that the biggest stumbling block between us and Luke is the ND.

But considering that we won't be taking him with any of our first three, he could end up with a number of clubs with room in their caps.

We have, reportedly, 500 grand before we hit our minimum TPP, which can (after rookies, new draftees) basically be offered to him.

With that in mind surely he would AT LEAST have to entertain the thought of coming to us. He'd be a leader, would not be dropped unless his form REALLY called for it (Brock is cut from the same cloth and was played every game he was fit for pretty much).

I realise we're not a flag chance in the next couple of years, but we certainly should be soon after that. I'm sure being in a club that's "on the up" is probably something he's had a gutfull of, and now just wants to be successful. But MOST players don't get to decide this.

He's a pretty good fit for us, and if he weren't biased, we SHOULD be a pretty good fit for him. So with that said, I can't see why deciding on a new home NOW, KNOWING what kind of money he'd be on wouldn't be an attractive proposition for him. And it's not like we're a struggling 9th-13th placed team who is suffering from prolonged mediocrity. We ARE going places as a club and list.

The factor that comes into this is the degree to which he can weed out clubs by nominating a price/contract length when entering the draft. I don't know the rules, but if he is able to name a price that only Collingwood will pay, then it's still possible he could go ND and use that price to ensure that he gets to 30.

If he can't do that, I think the ND is too risky for him. Essendon could well have a go at him at 26, as could North at 25.

I doubt he wants to go back to St Kilda. It would be hard for him to convince Lyon to increase his game time when he's just asked to be traded.

Putting all this together, I feel we're in the box seat provided we approach him with decency and with a desirable package.

Any player that demands Collingwood as their club of choice is 75% most likely to end up anywhere but.

Maybe he just REEEEALLY doesn't want to do the drive down to Casey again.

I hear it hurts your hamstrings or something.

:D

ball has leadership qualities and can get the pill.

Could we ever see Ball being the captain of melbourne? if so..under wat conditions?

ball has leadership qualities and can get the pill.

Could we ever see Ball being the captain of melbourne? if so..under wat conditions?

Timing could be the issue. McDonald will surely have his last year this year, and then we will be looking to hand over the captaincy. Davey and Moloney seem to be the logical fan favs at the moment, as the idea is that Bruce and Green have missed their shots, and younger guys like Grimes, Jones won't be ready. If Ball had a super debut season with us then he could be in the same area as Davey and Moloney, but he would have to win over the players. I think we should to see if we get him first! This years leadership group will also be interesting. McDonald, Davey, Moloney, Bruce will be certainties. Green probably gets in. Miller will again push, despite being such an average player, but who else will get a call up - Rivers, Warnock?

PSD is on the 15th Dec this year...that's a long time to wait!

in the event that both parties commit to each other, is he allowed to train with us before this date?

Timing could be the issue. McDonald will surely have his last year this year, and then we will be looking to hand over the captaincy. Davey and Moloney seem to be the logical fan favs at the moment, as the idea is that Bruce and Green have missed their shots, and younger guys like Grimes, Jones won't be ready. If Ball had a super debut season with us then he could be in the same area as Davey and Moloney, but he would have to win over the players. I think we should to see if we get him first! This years leadership group will also be interesting. McDonald, Davey, Moloney, Bruce will be certainties. Green probably gets in. Miller will again push, despite being such an average player, but who else will get a call up - Rivers, Warnock?

melbourne needs to review the leadership group...i would inject it with youth...remove bruce, miller and green...they can be onfield leaders...nothing against them but as you said...the window has/is closed/closing...for them

I would have McDonald, Davey, Moloney, some youthful players....colin sylvia?...he stepped up this year and i hope he continues...i would probably looking adding watts, scully and trengove to the group in more of experience gaining role...the leadership group can be more of a cross section of the club and where it's at...

so to tie this all back to the thread,,,,'Ball',,,he's been a leader and a ball winner for the saints...and melb is clearly lacking leaders for our future 'flag - window'...as McDonald, Bruce and co...are falling off...u don't need the offical title of leader or captain to show leadership around the club...Come on Ball...come to melb via PSD!!

Yes, as long as he and the club both notify the AFL of the deal and that we will be taking Ball in the PSD

Office 2010 is coming out soon....

The factor that comes into this is the degree to which he can weed out clubs by nominating a price/contract length when entering the draft. I don't know the rules, but if he is able to name a price that only Collingwood will pay, then it's still possible he could go ND and use that price to ensure that he gets to 30.

Liam Pickering said on SEN that his information is that Ball will put a $1 Million price on the first year of his contract.

Liam Pickering said on SEN that his information is that Ball will put a $1 Million price on the first year of his contract.

Does he handle Ball? If so that sucks...

Does he handle Ball? If so that sucks...

That is assuming that Collingwood have a $1m room in their salary cap. After all the crap I have heard in the last week or so I would treat this as just another piece of garbage.

Liam Pickering said on SEN that his information is that Ball will put a $1 Million price on the first year of his contract.

Looks like Ball is headed for retirement then I guess.

Liam pickering isnt balls manager.

Liam Pickering said on SEN that his information is that Ball will put a $1 Million price on the first year of his contract.

1mil...i don't believe it...especially if your source is SEN.

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but further...liam is not balls manager....Paul Connors is Ball's manager....a quick google on the internet machine worked that out for me...

below is my source of the fact...

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/luke...o-1225784579357

Looks like Ball is headed for retirement then I guess.

On that basis yes he is. Some of the rumours peddled on SEN and believed and parrotted by people who should know better is amazing.

Liam pickering isnt balls manager.

Ball is lucky then