Redleg

Got your wish.

Put even simpler, we don't know if he actually sought a meeting with us at all. All we know is what we read in the papers unless we have spoken to him personally and I haven't. The facts as we know them are: He sought a trade to the Pies. It didn't happen. Melbourne said it was interested. He wants to play with the Pies but can see the problem getting there through the draft. He has met the St.Kilda coach, presumably to discuss his future. Otherwise it has been newspaper talk. He owes us nothing if he promised us nothing. He doesn't deserve the bagging from some on here as it would appear he has done nothing wrong other than not getting on the front page of the Herald Sun and declaring his undying love for the MFC. I repeat this is not an integrity issue.

This doesn't have to be an integrity issue, it could simply be that Ball has thought about it and told his manager to cancel the meeting so as not to waste our time, as he doesn't want to play for us. That would be his right and I don't blame him at all if that is his position. Every news article since I started this thread has had the same thrust, that Ball does not want to come to Melbourne and will probably stay a Saint. If true so be it. We move on. PS. I expect to change the title of the thread in the next few days to "confirmed".

If this report is true it strengthens my view as seen in the thread title. I know that doesn't mean his manager couldn't have spoken to us, but that is not the same thing when a player is deciding his future. He would have at least spoken to the Coach to get a feel for the club. If true this bloke wants nothing to do with us and personally the feeling is mutual. Another sliver of motivation for the Demons.

Is he? That's news to me.

Did you know that an ant can lift more compared to its bodyweight than any other living thing on the planet?

Ok. Chocolate Ripple "Cake" is actually a number of biscuits with cream added. It is the only "cake" I can think of made of biscuits. When you have a slice, you are actually eating biscuit with cream, not cake. Hope that is enlightening.

Sorry, hit the M instead of G.

Smith has loads of talent but is injury prone. If he was ok he would be a great pick up in the PSD.

Or they think Buddy is a better player.

And lets not forget the impasssioned plea from Bruce and the leadership group.

Thanks HT you are improving my poor computer skills.

Hopefully this is an answer of sorts. It does provide a benefit to their list management in that it frees up a spot on their list. I am not pushing Thorp as I admit I know very little about him, however players are often a poor fit at one club and a great fit at another. I don't need to reel off examples as there are plenty we are all aware of. Given they have Buddy, Roughie and Dowler they may feel they have that type of player covered. Also he may have burnt bridges with their list. As you also hint at he could be injured too badly to continue being a senior prospect. I don't know the answers, but if he has woken up as a result of being dumped the character side may be fixable. As to his physical condition, like Ball, Smith and others, the Doctors should be able to answer that after a thorough examination. Hopefully someone else pops up that we are interested in and it won't matter.

Thanks Nasher, you certainly are on the ball, pardon the pun.

No, the point of the post was to give reasons why I don't think he will be joining us and like all threads on Demonland to promote discussion among Demonlanders.

Thought I would be the first to say it. The conjecture has been going on for a few weeks now and all of the media reports, especially a few this weekend have him staying at St.Kilda. The fact that Maguire has just been delisted on 99 games ( no possible father/son pick there) to possibly make salary cap room, heightens that view. Goose is a pretty popular guy at St.Kilda and that would cause some distress among his mates. Nevertheless, quotes are coming out from various sources that Ball does not want to play with the wooden spooner. I would have thought that if he was even considering us there would be a different spin in the articles. In my opinion Ball is considering the Saints offer and also investigating if there is any way he can get to the Pies without being taken by an interstate or bottom side first. I think we will see an announcement that he is staying put by the end of the week. We can then look at who else is available. Must add that if I am correct, I won't lose one second's sleep over it.

Is his situation, behaviour and injuries unfixable? That is the question. He was a high draft pick and has talent though we haven't seen it. I am no fan of idiots and we have had a few, but they can be turned around. Sometimes rejection and the realization that your career is one step away from ending can make the penny drop. Not that Colin Sylvia is an idiot, but you know what I mean, yet he appears to have turned it around. Could he perhaps be given added responsibility as a mentor or is it simply not worth it? I don't know much about Thorp and am only posing the question if there is no one better available at PSD 1.

Rollo, I think I am going to be unavailable. I have a problem of the four legged kind. Have told jack. If there is a change I will advise. Looking at your list I see a flag.

Many on this site would have given anything to get him. How things have changed a few seasons on. Same story with the Collingwood player from Tassie, Billy Morrison.

According to Caro he doesn't want to come to the wooden spooner ( no disrespect intended ).

This may cause laughter from some of you, but I believe that Juice is such a confidence player, that if he could have a day out it could completely change his football future. He doesn't have to kick a 100 a year but rather contribute in a meaningful fashion. That could be a few goals and some assists each week. With the spread of goalkickers we have, he could still be a part of our future, but it is completely up to him. His bigger frame can only help.

I don't hate individual players, I don't see the point. As many of you on Demonland know however I hate his club with a passion. Every misfortune that befalls them thrills me. I am looking forward to the next time we smash them in a game. It will come. I can't wait. If we win a flag before they do and Judd is still playing, that will be the icing on the cake. I would love to see the scum finish last in the next three years giving them no chance of strong drafting, it won't happen but I can dream.

If you mean use all of the picks above as in PSD 1 and 50 you would have to delist 2 more or only 1 more if you used 1 of them. We currently have 5 picks.

To pay him out just to get rid of him and the inability to "offload" him to another club bodes poorly for his AFL career.

No. Players have to be delisted before you have the pick. The empty spots on the list give you the picks.