Connolly has eyes on Ball

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,938]

Perhaps the club had decided to start winning games again.

[Felix 92]

Has anyone read the comments in the HUN??

What a bunch of idiots, if the MFC decide NOT to pick up Ball at 11 or 18 and go with youth, who is to say he would actually go to pick 30. None of the comments mentioned Essendon or Brisbane. Who says Voss will let Ball pass pick 18, if he has the balls (no pun intended) to pick Fev why wouldnt he pick Ball??

These people are idiots posting stupid comments... Must be CollingS#!t supporters!!

[furious d 472]

Ball would take a lot of heat off our young mids. I think he'd cop the #1 tag most weeks in our midfield atm.

He's nominated a 3 year contract with very little money in the third year, We get at least 2 years to convince him to stay or can trade him without any chance of having to pay out his contract. In 2 years time Scully and Trengove won't need the protection Ball provides.

Next year we'll have no player aged 27 or 28 on our list and only Green, Bruce and Junior older than 28. We have 10 players on the senior list who'll be 23-26 at rd 1 next year. Of those only 5 or 6 are walk up starts in our best 22 next year, Sylvia, Rivers, Warnock, Davey, Jamar and Moloney. And Miller and Davey are the only two in that group to have reached 100 games. Given our recent history with injuries, it's not inconcievable we could be reduced to a hanful of players with any meaningful experience.

We've assembled some quality talent in the last few years but they need to be surrounded by some experience as they learn the game. If we get Ball at 18 it would be an upgrade on McLean and our draft pick, win win for us. Ball is a professional and I have no doubt he'd give his all for whoever picked him up. He's doing what's in his power to get to his preferred destination, I don't have a problem with that.

They're the reasons I won't mind if we get Ball, but I'd actually prefer Griffiths at 18. Many variables to consider on draft day, but in I trust the FD to get it right..

[Disco Demons 92]

thing that worries me about Ball...is he has the same manager as Jack Watts!

[... 11]

Nice article by the Pies supporter. Not dissimilar to what quite a few have said previously at Demonland, but with a little detachment and fatalism.

If we pick him at 11 (I hope not) or 18 ( ) I'll live with it. Hell, I'm almost a certainty to be barracking for him in a few months time...

BUT....

If we fall one single player short of a premiership, a player that Luke Ball cost us in the top 20 of this year's ND, all the photos the Herald Sun can muster of him crying on the MCG will not soften me a bit. If he comes to our club under current circumstances, he'd better deliver.

Not happy Jan.

BTW, Barry accidently cut his lady-friend's leg with his big toe nail this morning in bed. Fun over, and Barry didn't even get out of first gear... Anyone think that's fair?

[Akum 2,660]

C'mon people, check the words used by the journalists (in both rags) and the words used by CC. It seems that the Dees are going to "brazenly" (journo's word) "strongly consider" (CC's words) LB at both 11 and 18. Subject to it "being rubber-stamped by everyone".

Why would he telegraph this at this stage, if not to try to get another club to pull the trigger earlier.

[DirtyDees DDC 187]

good article by Colin Wisbey, but i have one concern.

If Ball doesn't get his declared wish and is picked up by another club before Collingwood has their pick at 30, i'm worried he may go outside the AFL draft and head for the courts. Luke is not a dill, so he must know there is very little chance he will slip thru to pick 30. A court challenge might be the only way he can get to collingwood.

Ihave no inside information. i'm just thinking of a case in the 80's - a swans player who went to St kilda? an italian sounding name?

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,294]

good article by Colin Wisbey, but i have one concern.

If Ball doesn't get his declared wish and is picked up by another club before Collingwood has their pick at 30, i'm worried he may go outside the AFL draft and head for the courts. Luke is not a dill, so he must know there is very little chance he will slip thru to pick 30. A court challenge might be the only way he can get to collingwood.

Ihave no inside information. i'm just thinking of a case in the 80's - a swans player who went to St kilda? an italian sounding name?

Silvio Foschini. Clayton champion!

[RalphiusMaximus 6,088]

good article by Colin Wisbey, but i have one concern.

If Ball doesn't get his declared wish and is picked up by another club before Collingwood has their pick at 30, i'm worried he may go outside the AFL draft and head for the courts. Luke is not a dill, so he must know there is very little chance he will slip thru to pick 30. A court challenge might be the only way he can get to collingwood.

I don't think he'd get very far going to the courts. He is not being prevented from playing or from earning the wage he thinks he deserves, so what possible grounds could he have to challenge? By entering the draft he agrees to play for the club who selects him, so he has no leg to stand on complaining that he didn't get to the team he wanted. That's what trade week and the PSD are for.

[Guest watts04]

I'd happily have Ball at 18 as he is an upgrade on McLean and would be handy around the club as a leader for the time being (sthing we currently lack). Three more quality kids and Ball at 18 would be a good result, throw in McDonald in the PSD and we suddenly have a role model and further competition for spots.

However Ball wouldn't be in our next premiership side as in three years Blease, Maric, Strauss, Grimes, Scully, Trengove etc would have passed him by. Furthermore similiar players such Jones will continue to develop and with Moloney, draft picks and an inability to play anywhere else he would get overtaken. However I think he fills an important gap in the meantime.

[Redleg 41,415]

A court challenge might be the only way he can get to collingwood.

Considering that when nominating you sign a form agreeing to be bound by the draft and the AFL rules, a challenge would be highly unlikely.

[Lil_red_fire_engine 11,233]

Ball would take a lot of heat off our young mids. I think he'd cop the #1 tag most weeks in our midfield atm.

He's nominated a 3 year contract with very little money in the third year, We get at least 2 years to convince him to stay or can trade him without any chance of having to pay out his contract. In 2 years time Scully and Trengove won't need the protection Ball provides.

Next year we'll have no player aged 27 or 28 on our list and only Green, Bruce and Junior older than 28. We have 10 players on the senior list who'll be 23-26 at rd 1 next year. Of those only 5 or 6 are walk up starts in our best 22 next year, Sylvia, Rivers, Warnock, Davey, Jamar and Moloney. And Miller and Davey are the only two in that group to have reached 100 games. Given our recent history with injuries, it's not inconcievable we could be reduced to a hanful of players with any meaningful experience.

We've assembled some quality talent in the last few years but they need to be surrounded by some experience as they learn the game. If we get Ball at 18 it would be an upgrade on McLean and our draft pick, win win for us. Ball is a professional and I have no doubt he'd give his all for whoever picked him up. He's doing what's in his power to get to his preferred destination, I don't have a problem with that.

They're the reasons I won't mind if we get Ball, but I'd actually prefer Griffiths at 18. Many variables to consider on draft day, but in I trust the FD to get it right..

Excellent post FD. I think we will take Griffiths at 11 so you might still get Griffiths and Ball.

[sylvinator 96]

i definitely see the benefit of Luke Ball... however these benefits are purely short term. He will take heat off our young guns and be a role model to them for the next 2 years.

However our strategy has always been long term. We've committed to it, we've come close to the bottom for 3 years now... we may as well see this strategy soon.

Thus, in the spirit of continuing what we've started, I would be for youngsters pick 1,2,11,18,34.

I think 2 forwards for pick 11 and 18 would be the way to go.

Griffiths and Taylor could be good combination... as would Black and Tahlia, or even Butcher if he slipped. 2 of those 5 would see our forward line chockablock full of awesome talent.

Watts, Jurrah, Griffiths, Blacks, Bate, Wona, Maric and Green would be a supremely talented forward line.

We all know our backline is shaping up well and our midfield is too with Scully and Trengove added to Grimes, Morton, Sylvia, Davey, Moloney, Jones.

Vardy or Gawn at 34 would be ideale!

[Carndees 0]

Great call furious d

If he's there at 18, I reckon we should grab him!

[Redleg 41,415]

Excellent post FD. I think we will take Griffiths at 11 so you might still get Griffiths and Ball.

What makes you think that? If Black, Butcher or Talia were still there you would take Griffiths over them. I note he is due to undego another shoulder operation and is considered injury prone.

[praha 11,240]

If he's available at 18, take him. If he's not, screw him.

[DemonDing 56]

i do still think ball would be great for us copping all the hits for our younger boys but its pick 18 or nothing for me, i really

wouldnt think it would be a wise move getting him with 11 and for the money he wants to its a risk i think.

whats the lastest on thorpe? is he any chance or is he completly out of the mix now that we are getting joel mcdonald? (not the i'd consider getting thorpe with 11 or 18)

but is he still training with us?

Also can an uncontracted player thats training with a club change who he trains with in between the drafts? just wondering

because mcdonald is training with North thats all?

[hillie 41]

if ball lands at the demons in the national draft then he has already screwed the club over. i do not want him and his selfish attitude at the mfc

[jnrmac 20,179]

if ball lands at the demons in the national draft then he has already screwed the club over. i do not want him and his selfish attitude at the mfc

What will his salary do to other loyal players like Davey????

[grant 10]

Has anyone read the comments in the HUN??

What a bunch of idiots, if the MFC decide NOT to pick up Ball at 11 or 18 and go with youth, who is to say he would actually go to pick 30. None of the comments mentioned Essendon or Brisbane. Who says Voss will let Ball pass pick 18, if he has the balls (no pun intended) to pick Fev why wouldnt he pick Ball??

These people are idiots posting stupid comments... Must be CollingS#!t supporters!!

Ball must be the most overrated footballer on the planet. The Collingwood supporters I know would dread selecting Ball, and that's why they offered nothing at trade week. He's kidding himself if he thinks he can slot in guarranteed into Collingwoods midfield.

And if we're willing to pay an exorbitant price for Ball then what type of message will that send to our team. I don't blame Brock for leaving if he was offended to take a pay cut.

[Tigger 6]

What will his salary do to other loyal players like Davey????

With 12 wins in the last 3 years, I don't think Flash or any other player will mind if a highly paid player joins the club and helps the club become more successful.

[Luck Lucy 0]

Really. You would hardly believe that we've been wooden spooners two years in a row. The fact is we need to turn over personnel to develop a new and better squad. I have faith in the FD to get the job done.

[LITTLE STINGA 1]

I like the CC article.

But I do hope it is a bluff to get other teams to pick him up earlier. I think the Dee's are hoping Port Adelaide might use Pick 16 to allow a youngster to slip one spot closer to us at Pick 18.

Bailey has said he doesnt want anybody who doesnt want to play for the Melbourne Football Club. And I coudnt agree more.

We havnt even spoken to Ball. It would show alot of disrespect to our playing group if we draft him I would think.

I would prefer a Bastnac at Pick 18 if he slips that far. Or the best available rather than Ball.

THIS A BLUFF BY CC. BALL WILL NOT BE A DEMON!!!!

Youv'e been sucked in. Don't live in fantasy land and think that if a player has a choice that they would choose a bottom of the ladder team we would never get a good player thinking that way.

[Range Rover 1,935]

People keep saying how well Luke Ball played in the Grand Final but I've watched the game again several times and, yes he racks up some stats and goes hard at the footy, but his decision making once he gets it and his skills by foot are pretty ordinary. He's got no penetration in his kicking.

He's a good player but he's overrated at pick 18 (not to mention $1mil over 2 years) and I think we should overlook him for a promising kid who has got more tools and can develop into our next premiership side.

There's too much hype over Ball. He's not Chris Judd for Chrissakes!!

[wally balls 0]

the club will do what s best for the club. if that's ball so be it. i think they will take him at 18. we have a big experience gap. he has a proven afl history. he has his flaws - injury, speed & kicking penitration - but is a know quality. it is all good and well to talk about the promising future of all the young players on the list but who knows if it will come to fruition. i like all mfc supports hope most will go on to have long & successful afl carears which will lead to the coverted premiership. in the short term i think he will fill a need and is a safer bet than an untried tallent.