Luke Ball Interview on The Footy Show - Opinions?

[iheartdalsanto]

anyone else believe what he is saying?
all im thinking is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[chook23]

his call..............he walked

for $$

but so do many people in the workforce.

Just me .......but walking does not sit well............

dollars big enough to justify...........

only Luke knows that when he looks in the mirror

[Teflon]

Nup.

Sure he wanted cash and knew Collingwood would maximise that for a player of his type.

But IMHO he left cause he had players like Armo on his tail and he knew it - that came across loud and clear.

The sad thing about that is that it says Luke himself doesnt believe he could meet those challenges from up and coming players and refused to try.

Hes also got issueswith Lyon and believes the GF game time was a slight on him - fair enough, Lyon admitted he got that wrong which to me was a public way of almost apologising.........

Strange that hed have issues with Riewoldt.....there did appear to be some lost love there..........

meh......hes gone.

[mrkiss]

I wanna be sick

[SaintDebi]

Look, since Ball walked I've tried hard to detatch myself from any feelings of him as a Saint. I think I'd even convinced myself that I don't like the man anymore, but really I think he handled himself well. He didn't bag the club, any of the players, or even the coach.
Of course his responses were measured and he's not stupid enough to be totally candid, but watching and listening I think there's hurt there on both sides.
I'm sure he feels he made the right decision for himself, but surely if he has any integrity he must have regrets about how he went about it all.

[jonesy]

You can see he is hurting no doubt. Looked close to tears after the nab cup game after the siren,and you could tell he struggled through the interview.

I kind of felt sorry for him for a about 2 seconds....then I saw that black and white media top he was wearing...he walked out on us to be one of....one of THEM...please!

[saintnick12]

Look, since Ball walked I've tried hard to detatch myself from any feelings of him as a Saint. I think I'd even convinced myself that I don't like the man anymore, but really I think he handled himself well. He didn't bag the club, any of the players, or even the coach.
Of course his responses were measured and he's not stupid enough to be totally candid, but watching and listening I think there's hurt there on both sides.
I'm sure he feels he made the right decision for himself, but surely if he has any integrity he must have regrets about how he went about it all.

Agree he handled himself well. Could certainly give a lesson to one B Fevola about how to talk about your old club. He was at pains not to bag the club, or coach in anyway, and made it clear he felt he didn't fit anymore which is not far from the truth. Agree there is clearly hurt on both sides. Nick is clearly hurt, and watching tonight so is Luke. He seemed so uncomfortable sitting there and I like you, SaintDebi have tried to sort of detach myself from it, and I couldn't boo him at the game the other week and didn't allow my son to either. But my overwhelming emotion tonight was sadness. Sadness for him, and sadness about the situation. It just shouldn't have happened. But it was his choice, and in at the end of the day, we move on....
Roll on Round 1....

[StSteven]

I was impressed. Wish we had kept him, he is the type we should be hanging on to. I will say no more.


We will regret it.

[chook23]

I was impressed. Wish we had kept him, he is the type we should be hanging on to. I will say no more.


We will regret it.

HE WALKED...........hard to keep under those circumstances

[Milan Faletic]

Look, since Ball walked I've tried hard to detatch myself from any feelings of him as a Saint. I think I'd even convinced myself that I don't like the man anymore, but really I think he handled himself well. He didn't bag the club, any of the players, or even the coach.
Of course his responses were measured and he's not stupid enough to be totally candid, but watching and listening I think there's hurt there on both sides.
I'm sure he feels he made the right decision for himself, but surely if he has any integrity he must have regrets about how he went about it all.

Agree he handled himself well. Could certainly give a lesson to one B Fevola about how to talk about your old club. He was at pains not to bag the club, or coach in anyway, and made it clear he felt he didn't fit anymore which is not far from the truth. Agree there is clearly hurt on both sides. Nick is clearly hurt, and watching tonight so is Luke. He seemed so uncomfortable sitting there and I like you, SaintDebi have tried to sort of detach myself from it, and I couldn't boo him at the game the other week and didn't allow my son to either. But my overwhelming emotion tonight was sadness. Sadness for him, and sadness about the situation. It just shouldn't have happened. But it was his choice, and in at the end of the day, we move on....
Roll on Round 1....

I saw that GF footage and that was painful enough, but I can see his point of view now. He was on the bench watching us lose the GF, and the coach decided he couldn't change things. He saw the writing on the wall. I think he still loves the Saints and he will cry when we win the 2010 premiership.

[The Fireman]

Sad, he will probably regret his decision for the rest of his life.
I like the guy too much to bag him, this whole saga has been a real shame.
The thing is that he really didn't have to go, maybe a spur of the moment ego thing prompted him to make such a terrible decision and to make it worse..Collingwood. He will now mix with the likes of Didak, the two girls Daisy and Travis and a peanut coach with Slimy Eddie breathing all over him.

Sad.
We could have carried him.

[saintsRrising]

I was impressed. Wish we had kept him, he is the type we should be hanging on to. I will say no more.


We will regret it.

Listen to the interview again. He admitted he walked!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As to the type of person we should be hanging on to...we need players who are prepared to play their role and do their bit, no matter how small.

TEAM first is the Saint's mantra.

Ball chose not to. He walked.

We don't need "quitters" at the Saints.

So all that matters is that he no longer wanted to commit to the Saints.
So be it...he has made his bed.....

[Armoooo]

I also found interesting some of his comments...

Like that the way he played and the way the saints play didn't match, which was a bit confusing IMO. It would seem the a hard ball winning tackling machine would fit perfectly into RL's plans, but again it comes to what he was being asked to work on, and the belief was that it was his ability to run and create.

So if that was the problem that was leading to the difference between the way he plays and the way the saints plays I don't understand why he wouldn't stick around and work on it. Is his body the issue? does he lack the the work ethic or would he rather go elsewhere and get by without having to improve etc.

Luke Ball is gone, I don't really care anymore as Armitage has the potential to be a better player than him anyway. However I will never have the respect for Luke Ball that I once had. He walked out on his team and IMO that wasn't acceptable. I've got a lot of respect for the Collingwood footy club, despite their fans behaviour over the off-season and I wish them good luck for the future (as long as it's to no detriment of ours) but I would love to see LB be forced out of the team by one of their youngsters.

[Saint Bev]

I havn't seen it yet as it hasn't been on tellie yet, but there is 2 things that get up my nose with what he did.

1 - Others took a pay cut to stay together, he obviously wasn't interested in doing that.

2 - Didn't have the decency to tell Ross to his face, sent him a text message. No class in that.

[ace]

The rest of the St Kilda list was prepared to take less pay to stay together and work for team success.
Luke Ball, don't you dare cut my pay, and don't you require me to play for the team.
Luke Ball in one word, SELFISH.

Now I have to go to the bathroom to spit.

[meher baba]

It all made sense to me: some of you just clearly don't get it.

The guy thought he was part of the leadership group, an important cog in the wheel, etc, etc. He knew his pay was going to have to come down in the next contract - one thing he isn't is stupid - but he wanted the club to meet him half way. And he wanted the ongoing respect.

Instead, he was treated with clear disrespect in the second half of the season: more on a par with the Leigh Fishers, Gwilts and Rob Eddys than with the Riewoldts, Lennys and Sam Fishers and the rest of the leadership group.

I don't think that Ball had previously been given the message that this is where the club rated him nowadays. He didn't expect it, and it hurt. The GF was final confirmation if this.

And then another leading club popped up and offered him a role more like what he believed he previously had at the Saints, possibly for better $$$$ (although that issue wasn't clarified last night). Of course he jumped at it: he would have been a fool not to do so.

I still think it was a stuff-up on our part. We pushed Ball about like we did last year because we thought only the likes of Melbourne and Richmond would want him so that either

a) he wouldn't want to go and would therefore stay on our terms: lower $$$, use as a backup, lots of games at Sandy, or

b) we'd get a good trade for him: a first round pick or a quality player.

That another final 4 club would have a strong interest in Ball came as a total shock to Lyon, Drain, Nettlefold et al. Perhaps they underestimated how good a player he was. I reckon they might have done so.

And they blew the $$$ we freed up in our salary cap on Lovett.

It was a stuff-up. We seem to be strong enough to ride it out. But Ball's dignified, intelligent and (except for the totally one-eyed) convincing performance last night does tend to put a little nagging doubt in my mind.

[plugger66]

Nothing new in what he said. he did walk because he thought he would struggle for game. What is wrong with that. Its sounds like most here think he would struggle but are still pissed he walked. Should he play in the seconds. What does achieve for anyone? By the way some are saying players took a paycut to stay together. Who did this? Is it a made up story so Bally looks worse in your eyes.

[markp]

Nothing new in what he said. he did walk because he thought he would struggle for game. What is wrong with that. Its sounds like most here think he would struggle but are still pissed he walked. Should he play in the seconds. What does achieve for anyone? By the way some are saying players took a paycut to stay together. Who did this? Is it a made up story so Bally looks worse in your eyes.

And he and Roo are evidently great mates.

[TazzieSaintGirl83]

None of it sits well with me. Just leaves a bitter taste in the mouth no matter which way you look at it.
I dont think he was completely upfront but then again who would be while they are still playing. Maybe once he retires we might get a candid interview.
Other than that, my focus is back on the sainters and our boys doing well in 2010. He is an opposition player now and thats it

[bob__71]

Look cut the bloke some slack. He obviously has some self esteem issues. He didnt feel wanted so he left for a fresh start.

As for the comment about treating him like Leigh Fisher, Gwilt, Eddy...do you think the club should treat them differently? That is pathetic, and even if the thought was burried in the back of Luke Balls decision, he would have way too much respect for those blokes to express such an opinion.

[Dr Spaceman]

Care factor zero.

While I have no doubt money played a part it seems obvious that LB was more concerned at his future under Ross. He struggled through 2009 and would have seen the writing on the wall for 2010 and beyond. He's getting older and there's great young kids coming through. Whether he couldn't play as Ross wanted him to under our style of game, or whether he didn't want to, is a moot point for me. As a former captain, B & F winner and #2 Draft pick, he obviously wanted to play the game his way and be an automatic selection each week. And that just wasn't going to happen.

In the end he has simply become collateral damage in our war on the Premiership. Sad, maybe, but he now figures in my thoughts no more than any opposition player.

It's all about the Saints and always will be for me

[joffaboy]

Like that the way he played and the way the saints play didn't match, which was a bit confusing IMO. It would seem the a hard ball winning tackling machine would fit perfectly into RL's plans, but again it comes to what he was being asked to work on, and the belief was that it was his ability to run and create.

yes that is very important and LB is an excellent in an under at the ball, but as a footballer you have the ball for about two minutes a match at most.

Because the boy cant run, LB can't fit RL's gameplan. basically he cant "spread".

It is obvious he and RL's game plan would be in conflict.

So if that was the problem that was leading to the difference between the way he plays and the way the saints plays I don't understand why he wouldn't stick around and work on it. Is his body the issue? does he lack the the work ethic or would he rather go elsewhere and get by without having to improve etc.

Yes - quite simply, injuries has wrecked his capacity to run at the level RL wants.

He knew he would not be an automatic selection. he knew that while the Saints wanted to keep him, he was probably just a depth player, and not elite.

He knew he can play in and under but not in the RL style, so why stick with a club where he will not get personal satisfaction in his football, and also where can go to another club and get more money?

Luke Ball is gone, I don't really care anymore as Armitage has the potential to be a better player than him anyway. However I will never have the respect for Luke Ball that I once had. He walked out on his team and IMO that wasn't acceptable.

AFAIAC all of the above i have written is acceptable to leave the club. What I found unacceptable was that the Saints were painted as the villian.

He cleared the air last night, and good on him.

I've got a lot of respect for the Collingwood footy club, despite their fans behaviour over the off-season and I wish them good luck for the future (as long as it's to no detriment of ours) but I would love to see LB be forced out of the team by one of their youngsters.

Collingwood will get exactly what we got from LB, hard at it 100% in and under, with poor disposal, shallow kicking, and no run.

Really this should be the end of the saga. LB left because he wanted to play seniors footy regularily and get paid well in the short time he has got in footy.

Time to move on.

[Saint Bev]

Look cut the bloke some slack. He obviously has some self esteem issues. He didnt feel wanted so he left for a fresh start.

As for the comment about treating him like Leigh Fisher, Gwilt, Eddy...do you think the club should treat them differently? That is pathetic, and even if the thought was burried in the back of Luke Balls decision, he would have way too much respect for those blokes to express such an opinion.

I still havn't seen it, but if he said that about those guys, thats an insult to his fellow (ex) team mates. And maybe here is the problem, well in his eyes. Ross treats everyone the same. Zac Dawson said at the cocktail party up here, that he loved that about Ross, everyone gets a fair chance, no favourites, unlike at Hawthorn.

[joffaboy]

Look cut the bloke some slack. He obviously has some self esteem issues. He didnt feel wanted so he left for a fresh start.

As for the comment about treating him like Leigh Fisher, Gwilt, Eddy...do you think the club should treat them differently? That is pathetic, and even if the thought was burried in the back of Luke Balls decision, he would have way too much respect for those blokes to express such an opinion.

I still havn't seen it, but if he said that about those guys, thats an insult to his fellow (ex) team mates. And maybe here is the problem, well in his eyes. Ross treats everyone the same. Zac Dawson said at the cocktail party up here, that he loved that about Ross, everyone gets a fair chance, no favourites, unlike at Hawthorn.

no bev - meher baba posted that. Apparently mb believes there should be a hierarchy like in the Grant Thomas days where some players are treated on a different level to all the others.

Luke Ball never made such a pronouncement.

[GrumpyOne]

Filth player by choice.

His choice.

I'm as interested in him as much as I am interested in any other Filth player.

Far more interested in the future of X and Goose.