He wanted to stay!

[chook23]

All of it.

not according to my reliable source

my reliable source say that this is incorrect.

my reliable disagrees with yours

so many reliable sources

[shmic_s]

heinz traditional ketchup i find is the most reliable. avoid the salt reduced stuff at all costs.

[SainterK]

This explains why it was not explainable

Huh? Please explain?

If there is any truth to it, then Luke hasn't done any of the things that we were finding hard to believe were part of his character?

[n1ck]

obviously none of us know who the others 'reliable source' is, and thats fair enough, but id trust mine

[aussiejones]

Ball needs a new manager and (possibly) a realty check re his career.

Could end up nowhere !!!!!1

[Milton66]

obviously none of us know who the others 'reliable source' is, and thats fair enough, but id trust mine

Ok, I trust yours.

So why was he put up for trade?

Once we establish this fact, then we can for an informed view.

Pretty simple, really.

[Beej]

So then are we saying that the club removed the contract that was on offer to Ball?

[St. Luke]

I'd believe the thread heading. It seems way too strange to me that he wanted out. But Lyon himself came out and said publically he was disappointed that Ball wanted out.

There is something really odd going on with this whole scenario!

[n1ck]

While he was offered a new deal (on a greatly reduced salary, obviously) he was told that he probably wouldnt be getting a huge amount of game time and that they would be quietly seeking a trade IF they could get a good deal for him.

Luke wants to play football for St.Kilda. He LOVES the club, he LOVES the boys but Luke wants to PLAY football first and foremost - its not about money or anything else.

Hes a very proud guy, a very loyal kid - dont forget he was one of the main guys taking offers less than his worth and keeping the group together after 2004/2005 - but he wants to play football.

Anyone calling him a Judas is a deadset flog.

As for the contract: its pretty normal for players to wait until the season is over before negotiating on new contracts. In fact its highly irregular for a high profile player to do this during a season - especially when finals and premierships are on the line.

[joffaboy]

So why was he given a birth in the finals and GF.

Something is very fishy here.

[saintsRrising]

As others have said it doesn't add up. Plus it appears we are only trying to trade him to collingwood but if we were trying to trade him we would shop him around to everyone.

correct



he wanted out

nominated coll...............club trying to accomodate

Way I see it as well.

[Milton66]

Not defending the club here... but,

How do they rate Luke as a player?

I mean, does he fit the mould we now need?

Yes, he has great qualties, but are they what the club wants at the moment and going forward?

There's been many players who've wanted to stay and been either traded or axed.

Why, because the club didn't see them as part of the future.

[Beej]

While he was offered a new deal (on a greatly reduced salary, obviously) he was told that he probably wouldnt be getting a huge amount of game time and that they would be quietly seeking a trade IF they could get a good deal for him.

Luke wants to play football for St.Kilda. He LOVES the club, he LOVES the boys but Luke wants to PLAY football first and foremost - its not about money or anything else.

Hes a very proud guy, a very loyal kid - dont forget he was one of the main guys taking offers less than his worth and keeping the group together after 2004/2005 - but he wants to play football.

Anyone calling him a Judas is a deadset flog.

As for the contract: its pretty normal for players to wait until the season is over before negotiating on new contracts. In fact its highly irregular for a high profile player to do this during a season - especially when finals and premierships are on the line.

I think if we all put ourselves in Luke Ball's shoes for just a second we'd understand the position he was in.

Former club captain. Former club champion.

An entire season of either playing 50% game time in the seniors or getting dropped and then being told you're going to be playing a bit-part role in the team next season, being the proud guy that everyone says he is, you would only be human if you felt unappreciated and undervalued.

The thing I don't understand is, why would Ross come out and say he's disappointed with Luke's decision if it was the club that effectively made the decision for him by telling him they were going to seek a trade?

[St. Luke]

While he was offered a new deal (on a greatly reduced salary, obviously) he was told that he probably wouldnt be getting a huge amount of game time and that they would be quietly seeking a trade IF they could get a good deal for him.

Luke wants to play football for St.Kilda. He LOVES the club, he LOVES the boys but Luke wants to PLAY football first and foremost - its not about money or anything else.

Hes a very proud guy, a very loyal kid - dont forget he was one of the main guys taking offers less than his worth and keeping the group together after 2004/2005 - but he wants to play football.

Anyone calling him a Judas is a deadset flog.

As for the contract: its pretty normal for players to wait until the season is over before negotiating on new contracts. In fact its highly irregular for a high profile player to do this during a season - especially when finals and premierships are on the line.

I think if we all put ourselves in Luke Ball's shoes for just a second we'd understand the position he was in.

Former club captain. Former club champion.

An entire season of either playing 50% game time in the seniors or getting dropped and then being told you're going to be playing a bit-part role in the team next season, being the proud guy that everyone says he is, you would only be human if you felt unappreciated and undervalued.

The thing I don't understand is, why would Ross come out and say he's disappointed with Luke's decision if it was the club that effectively made the decision for him by telling him they were going to seek a trade?

Exactly! I agree with both posts!

[saintsRrising]

Luke was once a kingpin at the saints...but form-wise no longer is. Others have gone past him.

Role if he stays is now as a support player.

If you believe what has been indicated Luke was not happy to be a support player and the saints and sought a more integral role at the Pies who lacked contested ball winners.

If he stays he like Mini has to suck it in and do the TEAM role offered.

[saint75]

Hes a very proud guy, a very loyal kid - dont forget he was one of the main guys taking offers less than his worth and keeping the group together after 2004/2005 - but he wants to play football.

$600K is taking less than he is worth.....??

[Moccha]

A reliable sauce is one that still tastes good

[Thinline]

While he was offered a new deal (on a greatly reduced salary, obviously) he was told that he probably wouldnt be getting a huge amount of game time and that they would be quietly seeking a trade IF they could get a good deal for him.

Luke wants to play football for St.Kilda. He LOVES the club, he LOVES the boys but Luke wants to PLAY football first and foremost - its not about money or anything else.

Hes a very proud guy, a very loyal kid - dont forget he was one of the main guys taking offers less than his worth and keeping the group together after 2004/2005 - but he wants to play football.

Anyone calling him a Judas is a deadset flog.

As for the contract: its pretty normal for players to wait until the season is over before negotiating on new contracts. In fact its highly irregular for a high profile player to do this during a season - especially when finals and premierships are on the line.

Sorry. Nonsensical.

He could/can stay at the Saints.

He CANNOT expect guarantees about game time.

What player in their right mind can expect that? It's a team game for god's sake.

He CANNOT expect to be paid the ludicrous amount he was being paid because he was overpaid at first instance.

He cannot expect to ask the world when his body - cruelly, amittedly - stunts his capabilities.

Unfort for Luke, game's ain't played in ankle deep mud anymore...

[Saints43]

Hes a very proud guy, a very loyal kid - dont forget he was one of the main guys taking offers less than his worth and keeping the group together after 2004/2005 - but he wants to play football.

$600K is taking less than he is worth.....??

It was a back-ended contract. He was paid $600K this year (reportedly).

You would need to know how much he was paid in the first year/s of the contract to judge whether he has been over/underpaid over the course of the contract period.

[rodgerfox]

So why was he put up for trade?

Why wouldn't he be?

Spent a good chunk of the year in the 2s, then warmed the pine for half the GF.

To have an on-baller sit out that much of the game in such a high intensity match is clearly a sign he wasn't rated.

Whether it was Lyon, or someone else in charge of midfield rotations that doesn't rate him, is the only question I have.

But someone didn't. That's pretty obvious. Of you're not going to play him, get rid of him!

[St. Luke]

Luke was once a kingpin at the saints...but form-wise no longer is. Others have gone past him.

Role if he stays is now as a support player.

If you believe what has been indicated Luke was not happy to be a support player and the saints and sought a more integral role at the Pies who lacked contested ball winners.

If he stays he like Mini has to suck it in and do the TEAM role offered.

To be honest, this is the type of player I thought he was. He still might be for all I know. Clearly he is going because he wants more game time...but game time in what?? He'd be getting plenty in the VFL...is it the limelight he's seeking??? It's really got me beat!

[Milton66]

So why was he put up for trade?

Why wouldn't he be?

Spent a good chunk of the year in the 2s, then warmed the pine for half the GF.

To have an on-baller sit out that much of the game in such a high intensity match is clearly a sign he wasn't rated.

Whether it was Lyon, or someone else in charge of midfield rotations that doesn't rate him, is the only question I have.

But someone didn't. That's pretty obvious. Of you're not going to play him, get rid of him!

if he wasn't rated, why pick him in the first place?

[saint75]

We will test that theory over the next couple of weeks won't we? Surely if he wants to stay, he will now. Melbourne will get him otherwise.

[rodgerfox]

So why was he put up for trade?

Why wouldn't he be?

Spent a good chunk of the year in the 2s, then warmed the pine for half the GF.

To have an on-baller sit out that much of the game in such a high intensity match is clearly a sign he wasn't rated.

Whether it was Lyon, or someone else in charge of midfield rotations that doesn't rate him, is the only question I have.

But someone didn't. That's pretty obvious. Of you're not going to play him, get rid of him!

if he wasn't rated, why pick him in the first place?

Now that is a good question.

[Milton66]

So why was he put up for trade?

Why wouldn't he be?

Spent a good chunk of the year in the 2s, then warmed the pine for half the GF.

To have an on-baller sit out that much of the game in such a high intensity match is clearly a sign he wasn't rated.

Whether it was Lyon, or someone else in charge of midfield rotations that doesn't rate him, is the only question I have.

But someone didn't. That's pretty obvious. Of you're not going to play him, get rid of him!

if he wasn't rated, why pick him in the first place?

Now that is a good question.

How do you rate him?