Luke Ball steps down from captaincy to focus on playing

[RBnW]

Luke Ball has a taped interview on www.saints.com.au saying that he will not be one of our captains this year and wants to focus on playing good footy.
Also says he is feeling good and returning back to his best

[n1ck]

I think its a good move.

[Oh When the Saints]

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/b ... 30234.html


The right decision on his part, and IMO only enhances what a person of good character he is ...

[Dan Warna]

clearly a champion person.

everything about him screams leadership, so whether he has the captains tag or not, he is clearly a leader.

along with lenny hayes one of our best 1%ers in the midfielder. his suicidal tackles and blocks turn games for us.

[B W and R all over]

Fair enough I suppose.
He probably wasn't going to be appointed anyway.

What I don't understand is the whole 'focussing on getting better bit'

Does that mean he's been running around the field thinking "I'm captain, I'm captain," completely oblivious to the fact his groin is killing him?

I mean, you can actually manage injuries and captain the side too. But if it's what he is comfortable with then that's fine.

[savatage]

Correct decision!

[Saints Premiers 2008]

clearly a champion person.

everything about him screams leadership, so whether he has the captains tag or not, he is clearly a leader.

along with lenny hayes one of our best 1%ers in the midfielder. his suicidal tackles and blocks turn games for us.

agreed...to me the best leaders are the ones who don't have the "C" next to them

to me kosi is a prime example of this...he throws himself at packs consistantly going back and forward with no regard for his health...and he does this multiple times every match not just once a month

[The_Dud]

good decision, i think he was out of his depth amongst the likes of Lenny and Roo

lets hope all the stuff we're hearing about him being injury free is actually correct

[super dooper]

He doesnt have to have that C next to his name to be a leader!! We all know he has the qualities; and im sure if he is on the field he will lead by example, and off the field through his professionalism

[Dan Warna]

IMO I don't think ball was out of his depth.

I've been impressed with him on field and off field.

one of the classiest people st kilda have had.

the next nathan burke IMO, his on field form suggests he has similar tenacity.

[saintlee]

Fair enough I suppose.
He probably wasn't going to be appointed anyway.

What I don't understand is the whole 'focussing on getting better bit'

Does that mean he's been running around the field thinking "I'm captain, I'm captain," completely oblivious to the fact his groin is killing him?

I mean, you can actually manage injuries and captain the side too. But if it's what he is comfortable with then that's fine.

i have often wondered about this myself......i imagine that it is a greater mental drain to be captain, particularly if your in poor form or injuried, the sense of letting the team down must be greater.....

[Ghost Like]

Shattered (for him), personally I believe Luke is going to be the best ambassador for the club since the great Sir Robert, he's the one that always appears to have the best interests of the club and his peers at heart. Absolute quality on and off the field.

Would have been a hard decision for him but I imagine he's done this so that when the media speaks to the club captain it speaks solely about the club and not (fingers crossed) his injury woes or comparisons to Judd & Hodge, selfless act IMO.

Hopefully will get a chance to hold a Premiership Cup aloft on behalf of the Saints at some stage in the next 8 - 10 years.

Thanks for treating the position and the Club with respect Bally.

[bigcarl]

he is a quality bloke and has shown more than once on the field that he's prepared to wear one for the team.

he'd probably be the first to admit that his form has suffered due to the OP and, imo, he has it right. his first priority should be getting back to playing his best football.

he has good leadership skills and is still only young. his chance might come again if he's good enough

[Eastern]

Correct decision!

This is frightening. I agree !!

[esaint66]

very wise move IMO to much pressure to handle for him.

[Halo-9]

Good to hear he`s going well,,,hopefully thats not just positive talk,even though bally doesnt usually say that stuff so lets hope he has a cracker of a year again like 2-3 years back.