I think you should hold back your "excitement" as you dont know what he wants at this point.

My excitement is well in check as I haven't met one Saints fan upset at losing him.

realistic tilt at a premiership in the next 2 years?

Will Luke Ball see a premiership for St Kilda in the next 2 years? Or will he be watching on at Sandy?

Footballers want to play football. Obviously Ross Lyon doesn't rate Ball and that has to be on the mind of Luke Ball.

As for next premiership tilts, things turn around fast. Did Stkilda think they would be playing for a spot the GF in 2004 when in 2000 they struggled to get a win at all.

Hawks 2004 were looking at shot for the next ten years. Blues rebuild really started in 05.

History is on our side.

Will Luke Ball see a premiership for St Kilda in the next 2 years? Or will he be watching on at Sandy?

That would be one question Luke Ball has to answer.

My excitement is well in check as I haven't met one Saints fan upset at losing him.

Good point! Wonder if its got anything to with a touch of arrogance down at St Kilda these days!

Wonder in the Saints let the Ball deal slide thru on trade week ... thinking :angry:

a/ We dont want to lose him to Pies for a crap draft pick - so no thank-you!

b/ Basically it will come down to Us vs Team with Pick 1 in the pre-season - ahhh its Melbourne - so he wont play there!

c/ If we do lose him for nothing its much better to Dee's than Pies - more of an obvious threat!

I'm 100% sure if Carlton, Richmond or the Pies held pick 1 in the PSD he would be gone ... $$$$$$$$

Geez I would love to prove them wrong!

lets see the choice is :

A) A team at/near its peak , unfriendly skies and deeming you a little on the nose, needs to train X2 in order to get a look in !!.. chances pay = only satisfactory

B) Another team whos direction is squarely pointed up, looking to peak in 3-4 onwards.. plenty of game time ( if fit ) and an open arm welcome. pay = over the mark !!

thats about what it comes down to

realistic tilt at a premiership in the next 2 years?

Not bad throwing that out there RR, I know you don't believe that.

The key thing from Ball's point of view would be that we'll be in our window when he is 30 or so, with us wanting to hold on to our experience to help our tilt, it would extend his career by 2 possibly 3 years.

Stay on at the Saints and you get the short term success but in 4-6 years, when their best players have retired to be replaced by kids drafted very late in the draft, they'll be looking to offload their dead wood and rebuild.

Is it possible to delist McNamara and then re-draft him with our first selection in the rookie draft? Not sure what the rules are there around rookie'ing someone who's already been on a senior list?

As he was taken as a bottom aged player he is still quite young, i'd rather keep Tom Mac on the list than use pick 34 but if it's possible to have both then why not! There is bound to be a long term injury *touchwood* to someone throughout the season which would give Mcnamara his place back on the senior list if form warrants it.

lets see the choice is :

B) Another team whos direction is squarely pointed up,

Well I think we can all agree on that one BB59!

Is it possible to delist McNamara and then re-draft him with our first selection in the rookie draft? Not sure what the rules are there around rookie'ing someone who's already been on a senior list?

As he was taken as a bottom aged player he is still quite young, i'd rather keep Tom Mac on the list than use pick 34 but if it's possible to have both then why not! There is bound to be a long term injury *touchwood* to someone throughout the season which would give Mcnamara his place back on the senior list if form warrants it.

I thought T-Mac acquitted himself quite well, all things considered. Surprised his name keeps coming up on these drafting & trading boards. Fuzz is right in saying he's very young, and I'd hope the club puts a couple more years into him as I think he will build into a very good footballer, especially good at delivering by foot.

Edited October 27, 200915 yr by Its_A_Nightmare

Does anybody know "for sure" ... Why he choose Collingwood as his preferred/only selection during trade week?

Maybe that might give us a clue into his or his managers thinking process.

Edited October 27, 200915 yr by hangon007

I also hate to be a wowser, but surely the quote cited in that article is inconclusive:

"We are looking to meet Luke some time next week and that's a request from Luke and his manager," Connolly said.

The request from the Ball camp was that Melbourne lay off until Ball is back in circulation.

Ball's back next week - Ball will meet Melbourne next week.

That's not the same as Ball pro-actively asking to meet Melbourne.

I thought T-Mac acquitted himself quite well, all things considered. Surprised his name keeps coming up on these drafting & trading boards. Fuzz is right in saying he's very young, and I'd hope the club puts a couple more years into him as I think he will build into a very good footballer, especially good at delivering by foot.

We need to clear off one more IMO to open up Pick 34 and PSD1, and it's down to McNamara, Cheney and Bartram; the only remaining uncontracted players. Yes, I know, everyone thinks it should be Bartram, but I've always gotten the impression that the brains trust like him -- presumably for his intangibles (tank, work ethic, courage etc). Despite it being so popular in opinion, I'll be surprised if they delist Bartram.

Therefore in my mind it's down to Cheney and McNamara, and there's a great list of pros and cons to both. In that context, it's not that surprising his name keeps popping up.

Does anybody know "for sure" ... Why he choose Collingwood as his preferred/only selection during trade week?

Maybe that might give us a clue into his or his managers thinking process.

I think he wanted to go to Collingwood because they'll be challenging for the premiership again next year.

I think he wanted to go to Collingwood because they'll be challenging for the premiership again next year.

Fair call ... So what implications would that have for us during the negotiations?

My excitement is well in check as I haven't met one Saints fan upset at losing him.

I keep recalling what Ross Lyon said during trade week regarding Ball. I don't think he is a fan of Ball, he mentioned briefly along the lines that Ball needs to work harder and put in on the track if he is looking for more game time, whilst saying his current contract offer was now off the table. I have spoken to some Saints fans and they're not overly fussed in losing him. They can identify there midfield strengths and weaknesses.

They are of the belief that other midfield players were starting to be more influential at St.Kilda and were playing bigger roles for longer periods than Ball. Hence the frustration that Ball has shown.

However, Ball is a quality player in tight, he puts his head over the ball and is quick in disposal to release the runners. Yes, he may lack some leg speed. I think our side can benefit from someone like him and would be a ideal for our youth. If he is impressed and see what he likes throughout the Dees presentation, I have no hesitation in welcoming him with open arms at PSD #1. He would be the best available for the pre-season draft I would imagine.

When does his contract with St Kilda expire? October 31?

Good question ChaserJ. I think someone posted Oct 31, not 100%. If it is, he will be talking to Melbourne uncontracted one would assume.

If Matthew Drain did fly to NY, he wouldn't want to make the trip and not meet up with him. Chances are, he did.

Excuse my ignorance, but can someone who knows more than I do about these things, please explain the full implications of Ball's contract expiration on the 31st?

Once his current contract expires later this week, what hold to St Kilda have over him? What priority, if any, do they have over other clubs in re-signing him? Do they then join everyone else in having to get him through the ND or PSD (where we hold all the cards)?

If so ..

.. AND considering many believe that his only realistic options are to come to us or head back to the Saints ..

.. AND assuming he has actually agreed to meet us next week (after the 31st) ...

..... Well, I'll let you join the dots.

Am I missing something? Or wishful thinking?

Hardly midfield options.

You didn't see Wona play through the middle last pre-season? Or you did and didn't rate him?

Maric has the smarts and agility to bit-part it until he gets a bigger tank.

Bennell would struggle initally, imo, but would be a much better player for the experience.

Options are there depending on the makeup of the opposition.

You don't have to be Judd or play middle for 120 minutes to be a midfield option.

You didn't see Wona play through the middle last pre-season? Or you did and didn't rate him?

Maric has the smarts and agility to bit-part it until he gets a bigger tank.

Bennell would struggle initally, imo, but would be a much better player for the experience.

Options are there depending on the makeup of the opposition.

You don't have to be Judd or play middle for 120 minutes to be a midfield option.

Thank you.

Excuse my ignorance, but can someone who knows more than I do about these things, please explain the full implications of Ball's contract expiration on the 31st?

Once his current contract expires later this week, what hold to St Kilda have over him? What priority, if any, do they have over other clubs in re-signing him? Do they then join everyone else in having to get him through the ND or PSD (where we hold all the cards)?

If so ..

.. AND considering many believe that his only realistic options are to come to us or head back to the Saints ..

.. AND assuming he has actually agreed to meet us next week (after the 31st) ...

..... Well, I'll let you join the dots.

Am I missing something? Or wishful thinking?

All contracts expire at the end of October.

St Kilda still has the opportunity to re-sign him in November.

CC is right to paint a "MFC or STKFC" picture. It is stating the bleeding obvious, but sometimes all of us need someone to tell it to us.

And Ball has had his career go through some tumultuous twists and culdesacs of late; there is nothing malicious about the time it has taken to meet with us. This is just another example of our ingrained MFC patheticness that we are attributing a holiday taken by a player as a sign of disrespect and malevolence.

Edited October 27, 200915 yr by rpfc

All contracts expire at the end of October.

St Kilda still has the opportunity to re-sign him in November.

Cheers for that. I knew it was wishful thinking.

OK .. so, even though his contract expires at the end of Oct, it is not until the end of Nov that St Kilda have no hold over him anymore. (Bit like a cooling off period for the end, rather than the start, of a contract.) Got it! I think.

Cheers for that. I knew it was wishful thinking.

OK .. so, even though his contract expires at the end of Oct, it is not until the end of Nov that St Kilda have no hold over him anymore. (Bit like a cooling off period for the end, rather than the start, of a contract.) Got it! I think.

No. He is out of contract 1 November. He is a free agent. St Kilda have no cooling off period. After Nov 1, St Kilda have no more rights on him than any other Club.

I also hate to be a wowser, but surely the quote cited in that article is inconclusive:

The request from the Ball camp was that Melbourne lay off until Ball is back in circulation.

Ball's back next week - Ball will meet Melbourne next week.

That's not the same as Ball pro-actively asking to meet Melbourne.

Maybe i see the Glass Hal Full.

Luke doesn't have to meet the MFC-if he wasn't interested why would he waste his time.

The fact he or his manager requested the meeting on his return does show some interest. It is now up to the MFC to sell itself to him.

Make him want to come to our club. (as long as he is Fit)

We will not have these Draft chances for many years. We must get the Maximum out of them.

New Jumper New Era 2010

No. He is out of contract 1 November. He is a free agent. St Kilda have no cooling off period. After Nov 1, St Kilda have no more rights on him than any other Club.

That's not strictly correct. He is still a listed St.Kilda player and they don't have to use a pick to have him continue to play for them if they re-contract him.

Excuse my ignorance, but can someone who knows more than I do about these things, please explain the full implications of Ball's contract expiration on the 31st?

See link here .... should explain the date process ... Belzebub59 valuable post .... nice idea thanks.

As each date comes and goes the picture should become clearer & clearer.

Hope that helps.

Edited October 27, 200915 yr by hangon007