Ball v Jobe Watson

[bergholt]

I reckon that both times we've played Essendon this season, Ball has played 'on' Watson. Here's the comparison:

Round 20, 2009

Watson: 37 disp, 18 k/19 hb, 5 marks, 8 tack, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal assist, 1 goal
Ball: 10 disp, 5 k/5 hb, 1 mark, 3 tack, 2 goal assists

Round 8, 2009

Watson: 39 disp, 13 k/26 hb, 6 marks, 6 tack, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal assist
Ball: 18 disp, 12 k/6 hb, 6 marks, 3 tack, 1 inside 50, 1 goal assist, 1 goal

I know they grew up together and are great mates. How about someone else gets the job next time around? Because Bally sure hasn't nailed it.

[SainterK]

Jobe played a very good game, he generally does, and perhaps a different matchup will be considered next time...

To be fair though, highlighting only Balls stats from last night is hardly fair. I am sure many of the guys got beaten?

[suss]

To Watson's credit he has become elite.

And Bally, well, it's sad. I actually hope he's got osteitis pubis because if it's just a form thing he's in big trouble.

[saint66au]

I was feeling my age

Ive now sat (or stood) and watched two generations of Watsons rip us apart

[chook23]

When I think of Ball I see a young man in pain a few years back.....

who played when coached by Thomas....

A kid that played very very sore....even crippled in a sporting sense....

NOW paying for it.

Sad

[spert]

Ball has sadly faded since his early days as a gun onballer, and has no hope as a tagger on the elite midfielders.

[perfectionist]

I thought Nick Dal Santo was on Jobe Watson for much of the time.

[BonoRocks]

I thought Nick Dal Santo was on Jobe Watson for much of the time.

CORRECT !

[bergholt]

I thought Nick Dal Santo was on Jobe Watson for much of the time.

you could well be right - i just saw ball chasing him round a couple of times, and that was reinforced by a line in the age this morning.

[SuperSaint]

Ball is struggling greatly to match it with the better midfielders. It is so blatant to see and yesterday showed just how much Watson has surpassed him as a player which is sad for Bally as during their school days at Xavier together, Ball was streets ahead of Watson as a footballer. The reverse is now the case in a big way and I noticed that Watson at one stage yesterday easily beat him in a contest and pushed off him. Ball was helpless and tried to reciprocate by pushing his open hand into Watson's chest. It was painful to watch for those that followed Bally's career as a junior, as it was an obvious frustrated moment for Ball knowing that his good mate was now well ahead of him as a player.

[BringBackMadDog]

Ball played Mini's role for almost all of the first half, he was switched to Watson about 10 mins into the 3rd quarter to try and curb his influence.

The problem for Bally and also Armo, who also played the defensive forward role for a while is that both of them combined only contributed around 20 possessions and 10 tackles, compare that with the usual output of both Mini and CJ and they fall well short.

[AnythingsPossibleSaints]

Agree. We missed CJ's tagging and speed in a big way and Mini could also have gone into the middle to tag someone (which he did so much of last year).

[sunsaint]

I thought Nick Dal Santo was on Jobe Watson for much of the time.

CORRECT !

yeah, its funny how people see games.
Ball played the entire first 1/2 in the forward line. McVeigh lined up on NDS when they played a defensive setup in the center.
When I saw the SS game votes I shook my head.
In the key onball inside/running player NDS Vs Watson, Jobe creamed us.
Watson created many forward plays, NDS picked up many defensive cheapies.

[perfectionist]

...When I saw the SS game votes I shook my head.
In the key onball inside/running player NDS Vs Watson, Jobe creamed us.
Watson created many forward plays, NDS picked up many defensive cheapies.

Yes, I agree. Nick had a very poor game. Then again, so did many others, including Leigh Montagna (except for his last tackle) who also got votes. Really, only the two big blokes up front and their rovers were worthy vote getters. We had a good attack but lousy defence - from the midfield down to the last line. Anyway, we've got a couple of weeks to get it sorted.

[ace]

I was feeling my age

Ive now sat (or stood) and watched two generations of Watsons rip us apart

And not to long ago.
Timmy-can't-coach did it in 1998 and 1999 and he wasn't even playing.

[sunsaint]

Yes, I agree. Nick had a very poor game. Then again, so did many others, including Leigh Montagna (except for his last tackle) who also got votes. Really, only the two big blokes up front and their rovers were worthy vote getters. We had a good attack but lousy defence - from the midfield down to the last line. Anyway, we've got a couple of weeks to get it sorted.

Dont read me wrong about NDS...I think he had a lovely day, he didnt look like he a had an opponent, which was very evident in the first goal
it was just unfair to compare Ball vs Watson, when it should have been Nic Vs Jobe

[reincarnated]

Reincarnated just finished watching one week at a time and it said the Luke Ball was on Jobe Watson for a total of 6 minutes

Reincarnated asks people of the court...sorry forum to not twist an idea into an attempted fact

Reincarnated watched from the box and Ball was no where near Watson both at the contest and out around the field

[SuperSaint]

My comment was not directed to Watson playing on Ball but rather a comparison of Watson the footballer vs Ball the footballer. Yesterday's game showed clearly how much of a better player Jobe has become now.