Luke Ball leaves Saints

[trev]

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.


Dissapointing but all the best Luke. Wonder if it has anything to do with Lyons speech to the players after the GF where he told them that anybody not willing to put in even harder next year should come see him and be moved on?

[Booney]

No surprise there.

[Hondo]

Seems like, for whatever reason, he lost a few spots on "the coach's favourite player" ladder once Ross Lyon took over.

It's hard to believe that a no 2 draft pick (drafted ahead of Chris Judd) ends up leaving for no compensation.

He has a very impressive early resume with the Saints - B&F, All Australian, co-captain. From that to struggling to make the side at times in 2009.

[wycbloods]

He will be a very valuable addition to the Demons i would suspect.

[CoverKing]

Demons would need to take him with pick 11 if they are to get him. I think the power will take him with their pick 16 before the melbournes next pick of 18.

For mine, if he could fit under the salary, the Crows with the position there in for the next two years to get a flag, i find him a great acquisition. He would release players to play more attackiing football with him being the defensive midfielder. He for mine, would be a better pick up with the crows Pick 13 (i think thats the earliest they have) then a first year player, considering the Crows tilt at the flag in the next 2-4 years.

[Booney]

Demons would need to take him with pick 11 if they are to get him. I think the power will take him with their pick 16 before the melbournes next pick of 18.

For mine, if he could fit under the salary, the Crows with the position there in for the next two years to get a flag, i find him a great acquisition. He would release players to play more attackiing football with him being the defensive midfielder. He for mine, would be a better pick up with the crows Pick 13 (i think thats the earliest they have) then a first year player, considering the Crows tilt at the flag in the next 2-4 years.

Adelaide have one shot at it for mine with this group and that is 2010. They will really feel the loss of McLeod,Edwards and Goodwin and Burton will play a lesser role.

Do you have 4 blokes ready to replace them?

[Gingernuts]

Demons would need to take him with pick 11 if they are to get him. I think the power will take him with their pick 16 before the melbournes next pick of 18.

For mine, if he could fit under the salary, the Crows with the position there in for the next two years to get a flag, i find him a great acquisition. He would release players to play more attackiing football with him being the defensive midfielder. He for mine, would be a better pick up with the crows Pick 13 (i think thats the earliest they have) then a first year player, considering the Crows tilt at the flag in the next 2-4 years.

Adelaide have one shot at it for mine with this group and that is 2010. They will really feel the loss of McLeod,Edwards and Goodwin and Burton will play a lesser role.

Do you have 4 blokes ready to replace them?

By the end of next season I would suggest a few blokes will be well on their way to replacing the blokes you named. Vince is already there, Walker for Burton, and expect Dangerfield to really come on next year with a proper pre-season under his belt. Plenty of others full of potential in the queue also.

[CoverKing]

So your saying there all going to be playing in 2010??

I think the hardest to replace out of those 4 mentioned, is Goodwin. McLeod's form last year was pretty bad IMO. I woulda liked to see the Crows say thats it mate! Johncock to move up to do McLeods role, with Petrenko taking Johncocks role.
Burton will be replaced by Walker. Edwards will be extremely hard to replace, his consistency is the hardest thing to replace. I think Ball, could replace Edwards tho.

But purely as roles they play, Goodwin down back, up forward or on the ball, i think he will be the hardest to replace IMO.

[Booney]

Walker couldn't even make the side when Burton was out injured..

They used Sellar as a forward instead of Walker on one occasion, Walker = way over rated IMO. Dont hang your hopes on him.

*Edit just saw CK's post*

Yep, they will all be playing in 2010 CK, that's next year... )

[CoverKing]

Yeah my bad realised that once i posted it and read GingerNuts post and yours again!

Walker will be a very good player Booney! Last year, it was his 2nd year in the system. It will be a hard year for Walker this year with Hentschel, Tippet and Burton, however IMO we will not feel the loss of Burton because we have Walker ready to step straight into his shoes.

[Booney]

So Walker and Petrenko are two of your answers to cover imminent losses, yet neither of them made your best 22 at years end let alone best 18?

[Rik E Boy]

So Walker and Petrenko are two of your answers to cover imminent losses, yet neither of them made your best 22 at years end let alone best 18?

Replacements for immenint losses need to be assessed at where they are predicted to be when needed to be those replacements, not where they were when they were fringe players. Another logic bomb was Vince as a replacement for anyone. If Vince replaces Edwards you still need another Vince.

regards,

REB

[CoverKing]

So Walker and Petrenko are two of your answers to cover imminent losses, yet neither of them made your best 22 at years end let alone best 18?

That was last year Booney. At the end of this year, with another year under the belt, they will be better then where they were last year. Young fellas in their 2nd years of AFL, need time out of the side to become better players.

Them being dropped and forced to make the side this year will be help them in the future. IM happy for those to replace Burton/McLeod.

[saintal]

Disappointed but we obviously all saw it coming. Before all this came to light, I had Luke figured as the sort of guy that would have put this head down over the summer and given it 100% towards cementing his spot in a (hopefully) premiership contender.

I guess I was wrong. Hopefully he ends up at Melbourne.

[Gingernuts]

So Walker and Petrenko are two of your answers to cover imminent losses, yet neither of them made your best 22 at years end let alone best 18?

Replacements for immenint losses need to be assessed at where they are predicted to be when needed to be those replacements, not where they were when they were fringe players. Another logic bomb was Vince as a replacement for anyone. If Vince replaces Edwards you still need another Vince.

regards,

REB

I'm confused, who is replacing what, who?......

All this talk of replacements irritates me a bit anyway. The next crop will make their own history in the next 5 yrs or so hopefully. They will be their own players, not replacements for anybody, and we will remember them for how they played, not who they played like.

I am very much looking forward to witnessing the next chapter of the Adelaide Football Club. Who that involves is up to the football gods to decide.

[Hondo]

My gut feeling is that our next serious premiership tilt (if we have one) will be post Burton, McLeod, Edwards and Goodwin anyway. I don't see their departure as a closing of the door as such.

That's on the basis that our current crop of younger guys like Mackay, Walker, Tippett, Dangermouse, Otten, Davis, Sloane, Vince & McKernan will be hitting their peak post 2010/11. So the careers aren't going to coincide and that's footy. Whether that next batch will cover off on those 4 well only time will tell. I am confident they will.

I see 2010 as a chance but I still feel we are behind Geelong, WB and St Kilda.

[Rik E Boy]

I am very much looking forward to witnessing the next chapter of the Adelaide Football Club. Who that involves is up to the football gods to decide.

Until you can beat the football gods then the next chapter of the Adelaide Football Club will be just like the last.

regards,

REB

[ezydoesitbigfella]

When did this become a Crows rant? - it started at Luke Ball leaving the Saints and now you Crowmaniacs (or I prefer to call you, Fruit Loops) carry on about who is going to replace the Fab Four.

Who cares - or get yourself a room!

[Gingernuts]

When did this become a Crows rant? - it started at Luke Ball leaving the Saints and now you Crowmaniacs (or I prefer to call you, Fruit Loops) carry on about who is going to replace the Fab Four.

Who cares - or get yourself a room!

Booney asked a question - we gave our opinions. No rant here.

Fruit Loops - very creative.

[Booney]

I'm allowed to ask questions in here.