I think Eddie knows full well that it is open season on Ball. Collingwood are powerless to stop it, about all they can do is attempt a bluff to see if he can fall their way. Melbourne came out and mentioned pick 11, Collingwood have come out and gone the other way by saying they may pass him up - all games.

There seems to be alot of hype about MFC taking Ball, in the media. If MFC don't take Ball, i don't think he'll make it to collingwood at pick 30 anyway.

I'm over Ball..................

only 14 days to go till people stop talking about Ball!

Do the ND nominations close tomorrow? And if Ball has already nominated, can he withdraw before or after the deadline and still go into the PSD?

He should have by now realized his bluff has not worked, and that we will pick him anyway, so why make the club you are could go to use a top 20 draft pick on you when you give the club an advantage by getting you in the PSD.

It also eliminates the prospect of a Port picking you up at 16, which would seem a far worse scenario to me. I wonder how Luke's Dad would feel about that?

I think Eddie knows full well that it is open season on Ball. Collingwood are powerless to stop it, about all they can do is attempt a bluff to see if he can fall their way. Melbourne came out and mentioned pick 11, Collingwood have come out and gone the other way by saying they may pass him up - all games.

Whether or not it's a case of posturing by Collingwood or sheer bravado, it smacks of desperation to me. Collingwood and the Ball camp must be sensing now that there are a number of suitors better placed than the almighty Magpies to secure him. The problem for Ball is that the suitors include (among others) interstate clubs like Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney which have plenty of salary cap room. A couple of these clubs are at least as far away from a flag, if not farther, than Melbourne.

Collingwood have let him down. They should feel mightily embarrased about what they've done to this bloke. Even if he hasn't burned his bridges with the Demons, it could be all over red rover, too late she cried. I can't see the Dees giving up pick 11 for Ball while 18 would be touch and go. He's possibly going to end up at one of Sydney or Port Adelaide.

I'm over Ball to. We never had him in the bag anyway.

Its never over till the "fat lady sings" ...

So Mr Ball, Looks like it's Port or MFC for your future, if the filth have walked away from what they had started.

Or more to the Point-Alberton or the MCG (i know which i would prefer...)

I wonder if the silence will now become too much for luke who is probably lacking a bit of sleep by now.

I know one thing though-The Up to Date Medical Report on Ball is now worth a lot of $$$$

14 more days till.....

I know it's another Luke Ball thread but there have been a few twists in the tale.

Apparently, Ball is going to give the club an audience soon (note he's nominated himself for the ND meaning he's made a written commitment to play for whoever drafts him). Then there's the following story:-

Anyone around here unfortunate enough to travel on Melbourne's suburban rail system?

The newspaper you get outside the station when you travel in and out of the city has this article:-

Eddie might well be playing poker but one interpretation of his comments is that he's conceding that it's open season for clubs with earlier selections to take the St. Kilda midfielder. Now, it's no longer a case of "don't touch him - he wants to play for Collingwood" but rather that it's open slather because Collingwood might not take him even if he falls to pick 30. In those circumstances Ball has to question where he stands in this draft. The Pies failed to negotiate a trade for him in October and now it's virtually conceding him in November. Now, he could finish anywhere.

Ok ... if this article is correct ... we now have a situation.

Club A ... Yes Luke we want you and are prepared to take you at Pick 11

or

Club B ... Yes Luke we did want you ... However, we wont give you any guarantees if you get to our pick in the draft.

Yip ... very interesting "twist in the tale" ...

Wish we could send the Ball camp a copy of the article.

all mind games. I doubt we'd use pick 11 or 18 on him, and if we don't someone else will pick him. and seriously, if no one does, I think Ball will fully deserve it. I know I'll laugh.

Ok ... if this article is correct ... we now have a situation.

Club A ... Yes Luke we want you and are prepared to take you at Pick 11

or

Club B ... Yes Luke we did want you ... However, we wont give you any guarantees if you get to our pick in the draft.

Yip ... very interesting "twist in the tale" ...

I'm not sure Club A made that declaration. I certainly hope they didn't.

MX people, MX

Tell you what it does mean: it means beware if the Pies try to trade for you.

Tell you what it does mean: it means beware if the Pies try to trade for you.

When was the Last time Collingwood Traded Fairly?? The never deal like valued players.

They hold this belief that the Earth's axis eminates from Victoria Park thus all players who wear that jumper are better than all else.

Luke should have known this, The Filth have been doing it for years (or at least trying)

Peter Moore aside of course..

Eddie is just covering his tracks with the Collingwood faithful. Downplaying a desire to have him means that they are not really missing anything at all as they "might" take him at 30.

Collingwood would take him 100% at 30, the fact they won't get him is why Collingwood seem so/so in the media.

Tell you what it does mean: it means beware if the Pies try to trade for you.

And that's all it means.

Wrathchild is right - this is just PR nonsense from McGuire. They will take him at 30 if he is there.

Sorry Jack, but that was a nothing article. Not worth the price paid for it, and I am aware it was in MX...

He is only on your list if he signs a contract with your club.

The question remains, would you want to draft a guy at Pick 11 / Pick 18 who along with his manager, isn't returning phone calls from Melbourne.

Hell, I'd let BP pick you up if there was some value in what you offer.

But it's a moot effing point, isn't it?

Port Adelaide (pick 16) officially out of the Ball race. Jon Ralph mentions that there is a feeling within Melbourne that it's time to take a high profile player if given the opportunity.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/matt...f-1225797099158

C'mon Dees, take Ball at pick 18. You're in the the box seat, you have a free hit at him. Don't give contenders like Essendon, Brisbane and Collingwood a free pass.

Oh and did I mention we were 16th in clearances in 2009?

Port offically out of the Luke Ball race according to club manager Peter Rhode.

C'mon Dees, take Ball at pick 18. You're in the the box seat, you have a free hit at him.

If it was a free hit, we would get him in the PSD.

Let's say he thinks coming to MFC is like a holiday in Hobart and going to Collingwood is like a holiday to Paris. He's not going to sign up for Hobart when he might get to Paris but if that doesn't come off he'll still have a good time in Hobart. I guess the risk is he may end up holidaying in Alberton.

Alberton booked out!

When was the Last time Collingwood Traded Fairly?? The never deal like valued players.

Darren Jolly...Cameron Wood

Darren Jolly...Cameron Wood

Dare I mention woey.

Ball isn't coming to Melbourne.

He would've been useful if he came through the PSD, but it's not worth wasting any of our top four picks on a 25 y.o. who will be in the later years of his career when we are playing finals.

The whole thing has turned comical. An abject lesson in how not to go about changing clubs.

one might say its a total Balls up !!!!!

Alberton booked out!

wonder what the situation is with vacancies closer to Tulla ?

Port Adelaide (pick 16) officially out of the Ball race. Jon Ralph mentions that there is a feeling within Melbourne that it's time to take a high profile player if given the opportunity.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/matt...f-1225797099158

C'mon Dees, take Ball at pick 18. You're in the the box seat, you have a free hit at him. Don't give contenders like Essendon, Brisbane and Collingwood a free pass.

Oh and did I mention we were 16th in clearances in 2009?

I knew Richmond was weak as [censored], but I wasn't sure if Port was the spineless joke that they now are. Ball's bullying is working but hopefully not for too long.