Luke Ball

[binman 43,899]

For a list as directionless as us, this guy is worth his weight in gold.

Can you imagine our first-year recruits stepping out onto the training track with Cross, Ball and O'Keefe? Talk about filling the leadership vacuum.

We're not talking about David Rodan here - it's Luke Ball - A former premiership player and captain for a team that consistently played finals.

If the guy doesn't play a game, the effect he'll have on guys like Toumpas, Salem, Kent, JKH et al will be immeasurable.

I agree re leadership. What do we most lack? Mids and leaders and he would tick both boxes (though admittedly not the disposal efficiency and speed ones).

As you say Blease or Ball? No brainer - and you could include any number of players to that list. We have the coin and the need. So what if he only plays half a season? matters not a jot. For god's sake we played a full season without Clark and had players like Strauss not threatening to get selected in the seniors. Puhleasee.

Ball is one of the most switched on and well rounded footballers in the league, not to mention seemingly super well respected by his peers and i'd have him in a heart beat.

[Adam The God 30,471]

I don't think Ball's kicking would put us off. We picked up Daniel Cross. His kicking isn't that flash hot either. The thing Cross had going for him was that he could still get on the park. I'm not convinced Ball will be able to. I remember him sticking his nose up at us last time, but we move on. If he could help our club next year, I'd say yes. But he won't get on the park, so look elsewhere.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Also with all the talk about wanting to turn the list over, but not being able to bring in quality to justify it, tell me Ball isn't an option?

Would you prefer Luke Ball on our list or Sam Blease.

Please.

I'll pose another scenario, would you rather learn from RO'K, Ball, Crossy, et al,,, or Moloney Green Yze Robbo.

[Moneider96 1,045]

I'll pose another scenario, would you rather learn from RO'K, Ball, Crossy, et al,,, or Moloney Green Yze Robbo.

The former

[spirit of norm smith 16,591]

Ball was never quick but is now a real liability in the midfield.

No thanks...

[brey9186 102]

If you want him to teach the youngsters, hire him as a coach, and let him join in the drills..

His onfield addition might improve us 5% in 2015, but might hold back Salem/Kent/JKH from midfield time already taken up by cross, love what he bring to the club, but think he would only serve to minimise damage

if we had shown more this year, and went 8ish wins, by all means

[dee-luded 2,959]

If you want him to teach the youngsters, hire him as a coach, and let him join in the drills..

His onfield addition might improve us 5% in 2015, but might hold back Salem/Kent/JKH from midfield time already taken up by cross, love what he bring to the club, but think he would only serve to minimise damage

if we had shown more this year, and went 8ish wins, by all means

you got it part right, the damage is in our culture... its haunted us for the past half a century.

We have to cut out the cancerous parts, & then transplant in Healthier Organs to keep us going whilst we grow new replacement parts. a new culture Spirit grows from the inside out...

this is why we need new leaders steering this wayward vessel.... 1Yr a piece with options.

Edited August 24, 2014 by dee-luded

[Little Goffy 14,659]

He basically tampered with the draft by refusing to talk to clubs other than his preferred destination.

He is very slow and once again has an injury question mark.

I say we rookie list him, he can play out a season at Casey, helping them be a bit more competitive.

[Pates 9,661]

The question I would pose to him is whether he'd be interested in coming on board as a playing coach in the Junior McDonnald style. We would say to him that his spot in the 22 isn't a shoe in and that he's there to help push the younger players and mentor them into becoming better. A potential for him taking on an assistant coaching role for 2016 should be a part getting him in.

I would definitely be on board with that. If he simply wants to add another year to his career then I'd pass.

[Deespicable 2,886]

Happy for us to target Macleski - we urgently need a left-footer down back and he's had a great season.

Happy for us to consider Ryan O'Keefe because he's a big bodied type who can play as a mid-size forward for variety.

But there's no reason to go for Luke Ball - even though he's a bloke with great work ethic.

His body started falling apart some time back and he can't play anywhere except the middle and why would we want to give him a spot that should be taken by Riley, Trengove or Petracca.

[Gipsy Danger 1,067]

Announced retirment today. Got more chance of him being the next CEO then player

[Redleg 41,626]

Announced retirment today. Got more chance of him being the next CEO then player

Also needs a back op before he could play again.

[Qwerty30 196]

Also needs a back op before he could play again.

So much for those taking him in a heartbeat.

At 28 with 10+ years and 200+ games his body is finished.

At best he was a wonderful inside mid but was slow as treacle.

Given our lack of outside class and pace, Ball is not what we needed as a footballer ATM.

And if Roos was not going to extend an offer to Ryan OKeeffe then he certainly wouldn't to Ball.

And FWIW, draft tampering or not Ball made the right decision to pick Collingwood. Played in a flag and had he gone to MFC in the PSD he would have been trampled as the only legit inside midfielder with Jones.

[Whispering_Jack 30,739]

From memory, Ball went to Collingwood in the national draft, not PSD and we could have taken him earlier with pick 18 which we used on Luke ... Tapscott. Of course, we could have used the pick to draft Nathan Fyfe who was taken a couple of picks later by Freo. The history of drafting is littered with stories like this.

[Leoncelli_36 2,264]

Yeh I went to the game last night and he is cooked. Not even worth looking at.

[TheoX 1,222]

So much for those taking him in a heartbeat.

At 28 with 10+ years and 200+ games his body is finished.

At best he was a wonderful inside mid but was slow as treacle.

Given our lack of outside class and pace, Ball is not what we needed as a footballer ATM.

And if Roos was not going to extend an offer to Ryan OKeeffe then he certainly wouldn't to Ball.

And FWIW, draft tampering or not Ball made the right decision to pick Collingwood. Played in a flag and had he gone to MFC in the PSD he would have been trampled as the only legit inside midfielder with Jones.

Try 30, qwerty

[Adzman 2,154]

Great leader but finished at this level. Would have more value as an assistant coach.

[Dockett 32 1,239]

If he was any good Collingwood would keep him. He had his chance to come to us didn't he?

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

No way! Slow and worsening.

His manager said he'd sooner take a year off footy than get picked up by us.

[Dockett 32 1,239]

Thank god his manager said that, even though he is a gigantic [censored] for doing so! IMO he's just another cooked footballer trying to extract some dough from a dopey club willing to pay. Personally I doubt if he will find one.

[Bendigo Demon 115]

I have a friend in the Collingwood inner sanctum. Luke Ball is cooked. Even if he offered to play for free. Not worth a spot on the list.