OFFICIAL: Luke Ball gone

[Gabba]

*removes 2005 Finals Poster of Ball off wall*

I need a new poster to fill the void...

[FullMonty]

Thank god a decision has been made.
Now lets move on.
Might sound harsh but sick of this carp.
If he was going to sign he would have before he went OS again.

Harris, Jesse Smith and other good recycled players are still available.
Most can kick more than 40 metres, keep up with the running game and handball more than 20m and can kick a goal if their life depended on it.

Luke was a good player but wrecked by GT IMO.
Definitely NOT worth 600k/yr. Good stoppage player if you want more stoppages. Real value 250 to 300k.
Played all that time injured with OP when he should have been allowed to get his body right.
Where does he stack up now against Judd and Hodge? A poor 150th IMO.

Robert Harvey loyalty? NOT!
Says a lot about the character of Dal and Milne as on another post.

Have fun with the 4th placed filth or dive bumbers.
So long and thanks for all the fish!

[Eastern]

http://www.saints.com.au/season2009/new ... fault.aspx

St Kilda Football Club has been advised by Luke Ball that he will leave the Club.

Senior Coach Ross Lyon recently met with Ball to reiterate the Saints’ interests in retaining Luke and also outlined the improvements necessary for both Luke and the entire St Kilda playing list to again be competitive in 2010. However Luke has now made the decision to pursue his career elsewhere.

While St Kilda is disappointed with Luke’s decision, the Club believes it has conducted itself appropriately through what have been lengthy and complex negotiations in attempting to find a fair and reasonable outcome for all concerned.

The Club would like to thank Luke for his contribution throughout his eight year career at the Saints.

There will be no further comment on this matter as St Kilda now focuses on the upcoming AFL Drafts and preparation for the 2010 season.

To me this suggests that the club is livid with some aspects of this whole saga, including how we were portrayed as the "Bad Guys"by many. It also suggests that the club might have held back on what they really wanted to say. No proof, just a hunch !!

[BakesFan]

FCUK off, Luke!!
You're a Saint or you aint..... and you aint!!

[Winmarvellous]

Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out.

[WinnersOnly]

Football wise he is no loss - in fact IMO he has been a liability over the past two years. The only downside to him leaving is that we get nothing in return - but hopefully the SAINTS list managers get maintain their dignity, which LB and his manager obviously haven't.

Luke BALL is a money hungry spoilt boy and whatever club he lands at will be the worse for his arrival. LB is now officially a 'list clogger'.

Watch ARMITAGE and STEVEN blossom now he has gone.

[SaintWal]

http://www.saints.com.au/season2009/new ... fault.aspx

St Kilda Football Club has been advised by Luke Ball that he will leave the Club.

Senior Coach Ross Lyon recently met with Ball to reiterate the Saints’ interests in retaining Luke and also outlined the improvements necessary for both Luke and the entire St Kilda playing list to again be competitive in 2010. However Luke has now made the decision to pursue his career elsewhere.

While St Kilda is disappointed with Luke’s decision, the Club believes it has conducted itself appropriately through what have been lengthy and complex negotiations in attempting to find a fair and reasonable outcome for all concerned.

The Club would like to thank Luke for his contribution throughout his eight year career at the Saints.

There will be no further comment on this matter as St Kilda now focuses on the upcoming AFL Drafts and preparation for the 2010 season.

To me this suggests that the club is livid with some aspects of this whole saga, including how we were portrayed as the "Bad Guys"by many. It also suggests that the club might have held back on what they really wanted to say. No proof, just a hunch !!

I think that the club made a huge statement in the days after Luke Ball asked to be traded. The Saints logo and more appropriately moto has been displayed with pride against any article since.

Strength Through Loyalty

[3rd generation saint]

I wonder if he'll have written in his new contract at wherever that he must have at least 70% game time.

Something smells here because he had a lucrative contract handed to him, which showed he was very much a wanted player.

Maybe he just didn't like playing, or doing what RL wanted him to do, like kick more goals, hit targets and kick more than 40 metres.

To be honest, I've gone to many a game where Luke has collected many a stat, but I never noticed him and was surprised with the number of possessions he had.

Probably because many of those possessions didn't hurt the oppositions.

However, I will say that I'm sad to see him go, I didn't want him to go and personally think he has made a bad decision.

He might realise this around 5.15 pm on September 25 2010 when his ex team mates are receiving premiership medallions.

[meher baba]

I must say that I have never been more amazed by the general stream of commentary on this forum than I have been today.

Ball has been an exemplary servant of the club for 8 years. The club clearly drew a line in the sand and said that they weren't prepared to meet his minimum requirements (either in terms of $$$ or how he was going to be used in games or, i suspect, some combination of these two things). Their choice.

Ball decided to go. His choice.

Now, all of a sudden, he is Satan incarnate and also a total dud of a player and we should all be celebrating the fact he is gone.

Personally, I am sorry to see him go, will miss him, will hate seeing him turn out for another club, and am happy to acknowledge all that he has done for our club. And I think he was a bloody talented player who has been plagued by injury and also gutless snipes by lowlife opponents.

Of course I'm over him already, the club is bigger than the player and all that. But I still wish him well in all us future games (except when he is playing against us).

Thanks Luke, best wishes and respect from at least one supporter.

So there you are. As the sainted Bert put it, I like the boy.

So sue me, whip me, beat me, call me trash.

[SaintWal]

I must say that I have never been more amazed by the general stream of commentary on this forum than I have been today.

Ball has been an exemplary servant of the club for 8 years. The club clearly drew a line in the sand and said that they weren't prepared to meet his minimum requirements (either in terms of $$$ or how he was going to be used in games or, i suspect, some combination of these two things). Their choice.

Ball decided to go. His choice.

Now, all of a sudden, he is Satan incarnate and also a total dud of a player and we should all be celebrating the fact he is gone.

Personally, I am sorry to see him go, will miss him, will hate seeing him turn out for another club, and am happy to acknowledge all that he has done for our club. And I think he was a bloody talented player who has been plagued by injury and also gutless snipes by lowlife opponents.

Of course I'm over him already, the club is bigger than the player and all that. But I still wish him well in all us future games (except when he is playing against us).

Thanks Luke, best wishes and respect from at least one supporter.

So there you are. As the sainted Bert put it, I like the boy.

So sue me, whip me, beat me, call me trash.

Don't get me wrong Mr Baba. I think that LB has been a great servent of the club and will be a great player at his future club.

I just think the club in the last few years is finally leading the tail and not letting the tail lead the dog

[SainterK]

I must say that I have never been more amazed by the general stream of commentary on this forum than I have been today.

Ball has been an exemplary servant of the club for 8 years. The club clearly drew a line in the sand and said that they weren't prepared to meet his minimum requirements (either in terms of $$$ or how he was going to be used in games or, i suspect, some combination of these two things). Their choice.

Ball decided to go. His choice.

Now, all of a sudden, he is Satan incarnate and also a total dud of a player and we should all be celebrating the fact he is gone.

Personally, I am sorry to see him go, will miss him, will hate seeing him turn out for another club, and am happy to acknowledge all that he has done for our club. And I think he was a bloody talented player who has been plagued by injury and also gutless snipes by lowlife opponents.

Of course I'm over him already, the club is bigger than the player and all that. But I still wish him well in all us future games (except when he is playing against us).

Thanks Luke, best wishes and respect from at least one supporter.

So there you are. As the sainted Bert put it, I like the boy.

So sue me, whip me, beat me, call me trash.

Yes he decided to go, why not just do it quietly? Why paint the club out to be the bad guys through management and family? Luke could have handled it better, maybe with a little more class like X....

I am not going to go as far as to say that he is an ordinary person, just that his behaviour has been quite ordinary...

[PJ]

Luke is a sour puss and grumpy face - there I said it, now moving on

Not disappointed with that outcome at all.....

It gives someone else an opportunity and it must create room in the salary cap,i mean , if we were going to keep him we must have had room to pay him...

might be able to draft someone in the pre-season draft..a discard of merit,
or is that an oxymoron

Spot on exactly what I thought, bring it on.

Who's our next draft target!!

[F_Q_F]

Where will we find another slow midfielder that can't kick to play half a game of footy a week!?

[squiz]

All I've got to say is I hope Port or Fremantel draft him.
I'm not as forgiving as most

[Eastern]

I must say that I have never been more amazed by the general stream of commentary on this forum than I have been today.

Ball has been an exemplary servant of the club for 8 years. The club clearly drew a line in the sand and said that they weren't prepared to meet his minimum requirements (either in terms of $$$ or how he was going to be used in games or, i suspect, some combination of these two things). Their choice.

Ball decided to go. His choice.

Now, all of a sudden, he is Satan incarnate and also a total dud of a player and we should all be celebrating the fact he is gone.

Personally, I am sorry to see him go, will miss him, will hate seeing him turn out for another club, and am happy to acknowledge all that he has done for our club. And I think he was a bloody talented player who has been plagued by injury and also gutless snipes by lowlife opponents.

Of course I'm over him already, the club is bigger than the player and all that. But I still wish him well in all us future games (except when he is playing against us).

Thanks Luke, best wishes and respect from at least one supporter.

So there you are. As the sainted Bert put it, I like the boy.

So sue me, whip me, beat me, call me trash.

YES, and in that 8 years he was paid in excess of $3Mill for his loyalty & service at an average of $375,000pa !!

[Milton66]

So sue me, whip me, beat me, call me trash.

Now it all makes sense.

[saintjake]

Bring on David Armitiage I say...

if this was facebook, i would click the like button

[saintnick12]

*removes 2005 Finals Poster of Ball off wall*

I need a new poster to fill the void...

I wonder who (if anyone ) will be number 14 next year. My two year old has number 14 on his saints jumper. My partner is already trying to work out if there is a way we can get the 4 off and replace it with another number....lol....

Seriously though. Very sad to see Luke go. Don't wish him ill, but don't want to see him do well either. Sad but true. Especially don't want to see him get to Collingwood...hopefully someone else with an earlier pick will take him. If we are losing him for nothing, we don't want it to be to them.
My friend at work is a melbourne member, and he is saying he doesn't want him there as its clear he doesn't want to be there.

[SainterK]

*removes 2005 Finals Poster of Ball off wall*

I need a new poster to fill the void...

I wonder who (if anyone ) will be number 14 next year. My two year old has number 14 on his saints jumper. My partner is already trying to work out if there is a way we can get the 4 off and replace it with another number....lol....

Seriously though. Very sad to see Luke go. Don't wish him ill, but don't want to see him do well either. Sad but true. Especially don't want to see him get to Collingwood...hopefully someone else with an earlier pick will take him. If we are losing him for nothing, we don't want it to be to them.
My friend at work is a melbourne member, and he is saying he doesn't want him there as its clear he doesn't want to be there.

Maybe you could sew a three over the one, and embrace young Jack Steven

As for Melbourne supporters not wanting Luke Ball at the club because it's clear he doesn't want to be there, can kind of relate

[saintjake]

he was a bit of a baby in the end,
couldn't understand that he wasn't in our best 18, and that others had gone past him.
didn't want to be part of something great, if it meant not being the hero.
selfish and babyish.

[Mr Magic]

Who's had Jumper #14 between Lockett and Ball?

[Teflon]

Apparently Luke didnt wanna go.....but Lyon left him in no doubt where he sat in the "pecking order"...interesting...

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...016169,00.html

[saint64]

Apparently Luke didnt wanna go.....but Lyon left him in no doubt where he sat in the "pecking order"...interesting...

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...016169,00.html

In other words - he couldn't handle the truth

[Mr Magic]

Apparently Luke didnt wanna go.....but Lyon left him in no doubt where he sat in the "pecking order"...interesting...

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...016169,00.html

I see Jon Ralph is still getting 'leaks' from Paul Connors.

More 'spin BS' to justify the decision.

How hard ius it to just say:-
'I was offered a better deal by Collingwood'

Why all the 'pretense'?
What's the downside for Ball if the 'truth' comes out?

That he might be characterized as 'putting money before loyalty' or 'unwilling to do the hard yards'.
Is that what this is all about?

[Teflon]

Apparently Luke didnt wanna go.....but Lyon left him in no doubt where he sat in the "pecking order"...interesting...

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...016169,00.html

I see Jon Ralph is still getting 'leaks' from Paul Connors.

More 'spin BS' to justify the decision.

How hard ius it to just say:-
'I was offered a better deal by Collingwood'

Why all the 'pretense'?
What's the downside for Ball if the 'truth' comes out?

That he might be characterized as 'putting money before loyalty' or 'unwilling to do the hard yards'.
Is that what this is all about?

That also crossed my mind Magic - no wonder the club released a statement that talks about "acting properly" in all negotiations.