Lukey Ball

[Quixote]

If Luke Ball can get back to '04 form next year we will have basically added a top 3 draftee in the peak of his powers to our team.

It would be amazing for the unit.

[Mr Magic]

remember at 18 years of age Ball was rated higher than Chris Judd by the StKilda recruiters

was he???

I thought it was just that we tried to outsmart WC by thinking we could get Ball and Judd....and that we "thought" that WC wanted Ball but not Judd???????

JB was quoted once as saying that when WC called Judds number out that they looked directly at JB and smiled....

sRr you are correct.
I was at a 'Thommo Club' night where John Beveridge told the Ball/Judd story.

We definitely wanted both and WCE let it be known they were interested in Ball and not Judd (becuase of his shoulders). We took Ball at #2 convinced we were getting Judd at #5 because WCE was not going to take him.

As JB told it, the WCE officials smiled at him on Draft day when they announced Judd's number/name.

JB didn't say who the Club rated higher.

[Teflon]

Is there truth in the story Butters wanted Judd cause hed coached him at some point but Grant wanted Ball?

[saint66au]

Is there truth in the story Butters wanted Judd cause hed coached him at some point but Grant wanted Ball?

Please tell me that's not insinuating what I think it might be??

I just have a sneaking suspicion that Judd may be the bolter but Luke might be the stayer.

[Eastern]

Is there truth in the story Butters wanted Judd cause hed coached him at some point

Don't know whether RB wanted us to pick Judd but he did coach him in the U12's at East Sandringham !!

[saintsRrising]

Is there truth in the story Butters wanted Judd cause had coached him at some point but Grant wanted Ball?

Well not as it reads....


Butters wanted the Saints to take Judd as he knew him to be a good player in his opinion.

Having coached him it would have allowed him to make his assessment based on this. So I don't think it would have been JUST because he coached him.....but because he thought Judd to be very good.


However having said that, RB was the President....so it was not his call to say who we took, nor should it have been. He voiced his opinion and fair enough too....and also fair enough that it left it to those who were meant to make the decisions make them.

[Scoop]

JB actually rated them as they fell - Hodge, Ball, Judd.

The query on Judd's shoulders was a factor.

And yes, Butters would have liked us to draft Judd, for the aforementioned reasons.

[Teflon]

Is there truth in the story Butters wanted Judd cause hed coached him at some point but Grant wanted Ball?

Please tell me that's not insinuating what I think it might be??

I just have a sneaking suspicion that Judd may be the bolter but Luke might be the stayer.

How on gods earth could you get any insinuation out of that post?? ...I mean talk about over analyse.....

I understood Butters coached him and favoured us recruiing him and Thomas favoured the recruitment of Ball...?

[Spinner]

Luke was in year 11 when drafted! The only reason he wasn't No.1 draft pick is that he wanted to NOT play league footy so he could complete YEAR 12! GT respected that & Saints drafted knowing he'd virtually sit out a year.

Correct.

We were stating that we believed we had secured the best player from the draft.

Hawthorn made the shock by recruiting Hodge.

Even look up Matt B's phantom draft from AFL.com.

Ball, Judd, Polak Sampi, Hodge.

TBH - I wouldnt be complaining with Judd and Hodge.

[Scoop]

Luke was in year 11 when drafted! The only reason he wasn't No.1 draft pick is that he wanted to NOT play league footy so he could complete YEAR 12! GT respected that & Saints drafted knowing he'd virtually sit out a year.

Correct.

We were stating that we believed we had secured the best player from the draft.

Hawthorn made the shock by recruiting Hodge.

Even look up Matt B's phantom draft from AFL.com.

Ball, Judd, Polak Sampi, Hodge.

TBH - I wouldnt be complaining with Judd and Hodge.

And I will say it again Spinner...if we had first pick, we would have taken Hodge.

[Spinner]

Luke was in year 11 when drafted! The only reason he wasn't No.1 draft pick is that he wanted to NOT play league footy so he could complete YEAR 12! GT respected that & Saints drafted knowing he'd virtually sit out a year.

Correct.

We were stating that we believed we had secured the best player from the draft.

Hawthorn made the shock by recruiting Hodge.

Even look up Matt B's phantom draft from AFL.com.

Ball, Judd, Polak Sampi, Hodge.

TBH - I wouldnt be complaining with Judd and Hodge.

And I will say it again Spinner...if we had first pick, we would have taken Hodge.

Nope....Whats your source?

And if its JB, he can say whatever he wants after the event....So unless you actually saw his paper.....

[Scoop]

Luke was in year 11 when drafted! The only reason he wasn't No.1 draft pick is that he wanted to NOT play league footy so he could complete YEAR 12! GT respected that & Saints drafted knowing he'd virtually sit out a year.

Correct.

We were stating that we believed we had secured the best player from the draft.

Hawthorn made the shock by recruiting Hodge.

Even look up Matt B's phantom draft from AFL.com.

Ball, Judd, Polak Sampi, Hodge.

TBH - I wouldnt be complaining with Judd and Hodge.

And I will say it again Spinner...if we had first pick, we would have taken Hodge.

Nope....Whats your source?

And if its JB, he can say whatever he wants after the event....So unless you actually saw his paper.....

Who said anything about after the event....

And what makes you so sure...may I ask your source?

[Armoooo]

Ball, Judd, Polak Sampi, Hodge.

That would have been sweet, certainly better than Ball and Xavier, but now that it is done I wouldn't change a thing, there is no way I could stand to see Blal play for any other club.
But still can you imagine that one year, we could have gotten Judd, Hodge, Dal Santo, Maguire and Montagna...

[Eastern]

Also, Luke Ball was the 2nd youngest player drafted that year. The only player younger was Goose !!

[St Igmata]

Also, Luke Ball was the 2nd youngest player drafted that year. The only player younger was Goose !!

That doesnt always mean much really.

[*BaLLy iS BeST*]

and his enter score was like..amazing

amazing

his looks are amazing too =]

indeed they are

[Armoooo]

and his enter score was like..amazing

amazing

his looks are amazing too =]

indeed they are

Are we talking about the same Luke Ball?

[*BaLLy iS BeST*]

and his enter score was like..amazing

amazing

his looks are amazing too =]

indeed they are

Are we talking about the same Luke Ball?

sure are. and if u dont agree...clearly u have no taste in men and CLEARLY have not seen him shirtless... LOL

i love the man though...so mite be a bit biased. but i find him way more attractive than say...roo or kosi. but that could just me be me haha

[Unforgiven]

I would love for bally to get back to his 04 form. Has so much talent and lesser men wouldn't have had the impact he has had even with OP. Used to be my fave player to watch(hasnt been the best few seasons due to him being restricted, but has had glimpses). I hope he gets to 100% fitness, because if he does I have no doubt he will be on of the premier onballers in the league in 08

[karnak]

shoudl have had teh surger 2 years ago,

another indictment on the GT legacy and injury mismanagement.