Was Luke Ball a Waste of a pick for Collingwood?

[HoldenMCaulfield]

I thought that Ball was actually one of their best tonight.

He still can't kick, but that seems to be an employment criteria for Collingwood.

They should start to worry about Jolly though !

 

[stfan]

Ball got too much of it tonight. That was part of the problem. lol

..

True.

Did he have one kick that went toa team-mate?

He was the one Pie mid we did not mind getting the ball. He just roosts it.

But KSS will come crowing that he DE% was up in blithe ignorance that his kicks actually did anything.

 

[Invigoration]

**** he was good tonight. Warmed the cockles of my heart.

Would have gladly given the Saints our first rounder if that's the level of play we can expect from him.

 

[half_back_flank]

Armitige was great tonight wasn't he?

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Thought he was good tonight - plenty of pies who didn't want to put their head over the ball and win the tough contests.

Ball wasn't won of them.

I still would put him ahead of Geary and Armitage - so not sure why any saints fans would be crowing

 

[Murraj1966]

Not missing Luke Ball in the least. With Jolly and Ball at Collingwood, still the same amount of points between the side as in the Qualifying Final last year, also no Riewoldt and hardly any Fisher, AND the rub of the green with the Umps.

 

[Roby]

Guys like Armitage and Peake combined had LESS disposals, clearances, contested possessions than Ball. Not too mention Armitage had 50% disposal efficiency and Peake had 62%, compared to Ball who had 71%. Not bad for someone who had the most disposals for his team, considering only 4 players at Collingwood had better disposal efficiency.

Maybe this thread should be named: Was this topic a waste of space for Bigfooty?

 

[jnr_12]

Guys like Armitage and Peake combined had LESS disposals, clearances, contested possessions than Ball. Not too mention Armitage had 50% disposal efficiency and Peake had 62%, compared to Ball who had 71%. Not bad for someone who had the most disposals for his team, considering only 4 players at Collingwood had better disposal efficiency.

Maybe this thread should be named: Was this topic a waste of space for Bigfooty?

top post. ball was good tonight. did the exact job MM and his team would want from him (bar his missed goals). some of you st kilda supporters have such outrageous blinkers on you'd still knock the bloke if he had a 100% disposal efficiency rate..

 

[Plugger35]

I thought that Ball was actually one of their best tonight.

He still can't kick, but that seems to be an employment criteria for Collingwood.

They should start to worry about Jolly though !

My thoughts exactly.

Ball was one of Collingwood's best and tried all night but still butchered the ball. He had two shots from around 40 metres out and missed both times. Just has no penetration in his kicks and when he strives for the extra distance loses accuracy.

You can see why we preferred midfielders like Hayes, Montagna, Goddard, Dal Santo, Gram, Armitage and Geary who can all kick long and straight.

I'm not gloating about Ball's kicking problems either, I still like the bloke but he just struggles to kick at an AFL standard these days. His clearance work is still second to none though. Well second to Lenny Hayes but after that none.

 

[Stkfc05]

don't worry about Ball,Jolly,Peake etc etc... ITS 3 ROUNDS IN FFS

 

[KissStephanie]

Ball was ok

Ball was terrific and he can get better because he is still leaning about his new team. His 28 possessions and 71% efficiency was valuable and he kicked over 40 metres a couple of times as well. He was certainly well ahead of Armitage as I said all along, and would obviously still be ahead of him in St.Kilda's best team, because Armitage has still yet to play two good games in a row. Why can't he do that? I can't remember the last time that a player with 22 games behind him has not been able to do that at least once.

Collingwood got smashed in the middle again.

Collingwood had more clearances than St.Kilda, but I haven't seen how many of them were in the centre, but it was a good win by your mob under the circumstances! Collingwood definitely had chances to be a lot closer but the habit of kicking almost 20 behinds (and a number out on the full) against St.Kilda continues, while their habit of kicking less than 10 behinds against Collingwood continues. That's got to change next time.

Jolly's pick would have been better spent on a forward who can stand up.

Jolly will be good. It's Round 3 and he his still learning about his new team. He was definitely the first priority that Collingwood needed.

Collingwood supporters need to send Mick a photo of Sam Fisher, Malthouse wouldn't have a ****ing clue who he is.

Maybe the photo he has is of some bloke named "Sam the fisher."

http://twopaddocks.com/assets/pictures/news/sam-fishing.jpg

 

[Ricmel]

Luke was better tonight. I am now starting to see why he went to the Pies, he is actually in their top 3 or 4 players. Looks like a superstar lined up against the rest of the Collingwood team. Even made the distance from 30 metres at one point.

Good game. Pies can rebuild around him.

 

[Joffaboy]

Ball was terrific and he can get better because he is still leaning about his new team. His 28 possessions and 71% efficiency was valuable and he kicked over 40 metres a couple of times as well.

He was Ok, but missed two very easy set shots from 40 metres, and turned it over twice for St.Kilda goals.

He was certainly well ahead of Armitage as I said all along, and would obviously still be ahead of him in St.Kilda's best team, because Armitage has still yet to play two good games in a row.

Dont worry about Armitage, he just played a role in a famous victory in a mid field combination. He did his job very well. Loved it when he steam rolled Ball and then got the free because ball went too high

You saw a masterful midfield and a tough uncompromising team. Ball did what he always did, was hard in and under, but ineffective. Armo and geary ran their guts out. Ball just cant run.

Still he is better than that spud O'Bree

I can't remember the last time that a player with 22 games behind him has not been able to do that at least once.

See Didak or Davis lately?

Collingwood had more clearances than St.Kilda, but I haven't seen how many of them were in the centre, but it was a good win by your mob under the circumstances!

It wasn't a good win. It was a tremendous win, full of guts and determination. Something the Saints opposition has got very little of,going on last nights effort.

Not a single goal in a half of foorball. 1987 - Leigh Matthews as coach, thats the last time Colling has had a goalless second half.

Collingwood definitely had chances to be a lot closer but the habit of kicking almost 20 behinds (and a number out on the full) against St.Kilda continues,

Big game pressure and a lack of coaching prowess. Where was Lockyer, one of your best kicks at goal? in the back half all game? Where was Jack Anthony? In the grandstands

while their habit of kicking less than 10 behinds against Collingwood continues.

It is because the Saints get the ball in front of goal

That's got to change next time.Jolly will be good. It's Round 3 and he his still learning about his new team. He was definitely the first priority that Collingwood needed.

Jolly and Ball have NOT bridged the gap between the pretenders and the real contenders. Jolly was comprehensively beaten by King and Gardiner last night, and Fraser is just a waste of space.

Ball played the way he always will. Head over the ball, tough, and hard at it with ineffective kicking at goal and in general play.

The look on his face at fulltime said it all. A tip Luke. Just think of the money, because thats why you left in the first place

 

[Falchoon]

Ball was terrific and he can get better because he is still leaning about his new team. His 28 possessions and 71% efficiency was valuable and he kicked over 40 metres a couple of times as well.

Ball showed why Collingwood were keen (inside work) and St Kilda not so keen (inability to run/carry and penetrate zones). Everyone is happy.

 

[Invigoration]

Ball showed why Collingwood were keen (inside work) and St Kilda not so keen (inability to run/carry and penetrate zones). Everyone is happy.

One sentence that sums up and ends the whole argument right here. If only...

 

[JeffDunne]

Does he make them a better team?

Wouldn't appear so.

So yes, a waste of a pick.

 

[Big Red is back]

Did Ball have one effective kick every kick i saw was a roots floating left footer.

 

[Invigoration]

Does he make them a better team?

Wouldn't appear so.

So yes, a waste of a pick.

Luke Ball - 28 disposals

Andrew Lovett - 1 million dollar pay out

 

[The Fireman]

Luke Ball - 28 disposals

Andrew Lovett - 1 million dollar pay out

Collingwood...beaten again

 

[JeffDunne]

Luke Ball - 28 disposals

Andrew Lovett - 1 million dollar pay out

Does anyone deny Lovett was a waste of a pick? Especially based on the criteria I rated Ball?

Congrat's though, first time I've read anything from you that comes close to being based on common sense.

Speaks volumes that in defence of Ball you need to go for such an obvious example. Speaks volumes too that Collingwood supporters are pointing to off-season 'victories' after 3 rounds of football.

But hey, keep patting yourself over your one perceived victory over St Kilda (in fact it was actually Essendon that won but we won't rain on your parade)

 

[Invigoration]

Made us a ~40 point better side than this time last year if we are using your criteria Jeffy.

I don't know why you can't just let it go though? Can't be good for an old mans health surely.

Luke Ball for free was my actual victory, nothing perceived about it.

 

[Nathan Q Brown]

any thoughts on the treatment of Ball by his previous fans last night. Ball - who by all accounts is a decent bloke - was booed twice as loud as our fans were able to boo the Tiprat ( who is anything other than a good blokes it seems)???? don't remember us giving it to williams or tarrant like that. pretty poor form

 

[The Fireman]

any thoughts on the treatment of Ball by his previous fans last night. Ball - who by all accounts is a decent bloke - was booed twice as loud as our fans were able to boo the Tiprat ( who is anything other than a good blokes it seems)???? don't remember us giving it to williams or tarrant like that. pretty poor form

Suck it up Nath


PS. If Ball was a decent bloke he would not have wanted to go to the Skunks.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Another poor game. Kicking was woeful. I'd have a guess he went at 30% efficiency on his kicking.

Not working with the other midfield as Pendlebury is doing nothing at the moment and is a non factor. O'bree likewise.

Malthouse should swallow his pride and drop him and put some young fresher faster legs in there. Heck, rotate Sidebottom and Beams through his role and get the kids some much needed experience instead of putting them in the pockets.

 

[shiva25]

any thoughts on the treatment of Ball by his previous fans last night. Ball - who by all accounts is a decent bloke - was booed twice as loud as our fans were able to boo the Tiprat ( who is anything other than a good blokes it seems)???? don't remember us giving it to williams or tarrant like that. pretty poor form

Doesnt matter whether Ball is a decent bloke or not but lets remember it was Ball who didnt want to sign another contract when it was offered to him by Stkilda last season and it was he who wanted out so your going to get a bit of bad feeling amongst Saints supporters so i cant see the big deal about. Mcphee copped the same last week as well from Essendon supporters so its part and parcel of the game
The only reason why Collingwood supporters dont boo Tarrant was because it was Collingwood who made the decision to get rid of Tarrant so its a completely different set of circumstances. I am pretty sure if Tarrant wanted out and made it clear he would of copped the same flak