Luke Ball is in the GF..Lyon said he will play.

[saintsRrising]

Ros Lyon just stated that on Ch 9.

Is definitely in the team.

Basically said the same for Zac too.

[saintsRrising]

Was categorical that Luke is in.

No doubt with how it was said.

[Enrico_Misso]

Great news.
Though Bally was never in doubt - he was great against the Dogs.

Good to get that sorted out early in the week so the media don't play up the Max thing.

Only issue now is Dumpster or Eddy ?

[ralphsmith]

Of course Ball will play.

He is a Shamen. Works magic elusively. The blocks, the positioning. You don't see it, i don't see it. But he's there stifling the opposition.

[saintsRrising]

Great news.
Though Bally was never in doubt - he was great against the Dogs.

Good to get that sorted out early in the week so the media don't play up the Max thing.

Fully agree...and really eases the pressure on Ball.

Only issue now is Dumpster or Eddy ?

Again I agree...but they did not ask Roo on that .

Just Ball..and Zac.

Response on Bal was quick and categorical.
On Zac was delivered as a more joking reply...but again left no doubt that Zac is playing. Did not say that Max would not play though.


BUT earlier when discussing the Dogs Game and their forward line Lyon did state that the Saints would have been negligent to have played all of Zac, Max, Gilbert & Fisher. Caveat..this was directly on the Dogs Game.

[saintsRrising]

Bump.

[3rd generation saint]

Ball is essential for us in the middle, hard, tough, fearless and can lay bruising tackles.
What he also need is trip down memory lane with Lenny dislocating someone's shoulder.

[satchmo]

Luke was born for this. A premiership medallion would knock a dent in some of the judd/hodge/Ball arguments.

[vacuous space]

A premiership medallion would knock a dent in some of the judd/hodge/Ball arguments.

I think those are just Judd/Hodge arguments these days. Ball isn't really close to those two anymore. No matter what happens next weekend, Bally's not one of our top mids anymore. Judd and Hodge are two of the best in the comp.

[thirty-seven!?]

Great news.
Though Bally was never in doubt - he was great against the Dogs.

Good to get that sorted out early in the week so the media don't play up the Max thing.

Only issue now is Dumpster or Eddy ?

I think Eddy may miss due to his smaller body - Remember Geary in round 14?? There could be a very good case for Gwilt too - SEN made a great argument for his inclusion earlier in the day... would play well on Harley

[vacuous space]

There could be a very good case for Gwilt too...

I think there is a good case for Gwilt. Bigger body than Eddy, good footskills. Geelong have a big backline without as many runners. Personally, I'd like to see him play.

[Legendary]

There could be a very good case for Gwilt too...

I think there is a good case for Gwilt. Bigger body than Eddy, good footskills. Geelong have a big backline without as many runners. Personally, I'd like to see him play.

I agree with this, I certainly think either Gwilt or Dempster are the obvious replacements, and would serve our matchups and structure better than Eddy/Geary would.

[Eastern]

A wet weather slog !!

I'm guessing that Bally will be on the ground for a lot longer than the 58% he did in the Prelim !!

[saintsRrising]

A wet weather slog !!

I'm guessing that Bally will be on the ground for a lot longer than the 58% he did in the Prelim !!

Not sure about that..recent history has Ball only be used with low TOG with greater time being given to others.


Ball may surprise me and play a blinder...but if he does it will be his first such game this year.


Ball is more likely to be used asa grunt player to allow our better mids to do some damage.

My comments are based on Ball of 2009..and not Ball as the 18 year old.

[Megamaguire]

I think back to all he has put in for our club over the years and i feel he just might get all the breaks needed to have him grinning by days' end.

Looking forward to all those 1%ers and leadership qualities that Luke can bring to a pressure situation and to the advantage of his teammates.

GOOD LUCK LUKE !
GOOD LUCK SAINTS!