Luke Ball Retires

Leggie · Bucks for PM. Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Location: Perth

Nothing fishy mate.
The want and desire to play is different to the physically being able to sustain it for another season.

Out and out champion.
Sadly missed but great memories.
As said by many, he will go down as a great for the club.
A friggin warrior.

All the best Lukey Ball.

ronrat · Joined: 22 May 2006 Location: Thailand

A career well played sir.

Thanks for all you done and i hope to see you take a prominent spot in the AFL where we at least will get a fair go.

VicParkTragic · Joined: 17 Oct 2010

Have to be one of the best trades into collingwood ever. Seemed to epitomise what quality footballers should be like as soon as he arrived. And he could play!!
Yes a true champion both of the club and game.

jackcass · Joined: 01 Mar 2005 Location: Bendigo

Been carrying a back injury for for quite a few weeks, it's why he missed games recently. Surgery is definitely news.

Very sad to see the demise of such a legend, would have been fantastic to have him go round 1 more year but he struggled this season with the pace of the game, can't see it improving in 2015. Bally has taken (another) 1 for the long term benefit of the team.

winpies · Joined: 12 Nov 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia

Congratulations Bally. You have done yourself proud both at the 'aints and specifically at the Pies as a premiership player. They cannot take that away from you.

You have been a role model for our boys, put your heart and soul into your footy and got the best out of yourself. I hope you are as proud of what you have achieved as I am of you.

Enjoy your retirement.

Wokko · Come and take it. Joined: 04 Oct 2005

If Rossy had played him in the last quarter of '09 he would've been a Saints premiership player and wouldn't have gone anywhere. Thank Rossy for giving us a Collingwood champion, premiership player, hard nut and good bloke.

I think he had one more year, it was the Saints thinking he was done that got him to us, now we're the ones underestimating him. Thanks for the Premiership and 5 years as the Pies extractor!

Dr Pie · Dr Pie Joined: 08 Nov 2007

A quality player and a quality person.

He gave so much to Collingwood and also to the game in his role with the players association.

I heard him doing guest comments a couple of times on 774. He would make a very good coach.

Thanks Luke for your role in our most recent premiership and for five years of inspiring entertainment.

eddiesmith · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 12:56 am

Definitely pushed, its a shame as I am sure he could be of great value next year even if it was mostly in the VFL helping the younger players

RudeBoy · Joined: 28 Nov 2005

I copped quite a bit of flak from some of my fellow Nicksters mid season when I stated that Ball's time was now up and that Adams was now our first choice inside mid. Fortunately both Ball and the club share that view. I'm glad Ball gets to finish his career in the seniors, instead of running around in the ressies which he would have done had he played on next year. He was a courageous and supremely professional player who always gave 100 %. He retires as a Collingwood Premiership player. We'll done Luke.

Mugwump · Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Location: Between London and Melbourne

Clifton Hill-Billy · Joined: 29 Sep 2011 Location: 3068----> 3076

Thanks for the 2010 premiership Bally (also 2011 prelim was pretty good), loved the way the demented panther went about it, pity the umpires considered the did not have a neck for the majority of the time he played for us. A true champion in every sense of the word.

collie dog · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2014 8:04 am

Another one forced out by Buckley, just when we need some wise old heads around the club. I tell you Buckley is threatened by people wth a bit of experience at this caper.

Well done Luke Ball you champion and wonderful bloke. Very Happy

yin-YANG · Joined: 03 Oct 2011

I doubt he was forced out - the only thing forcing the issue was his body... when you are so tough and harsh on your own safety as Ball has been over the years the body pays the price!

A premiership player who managed almost 5 years with the pies after he was off-loaded by the saints! Will always be in Lyon's nightmares - good on ya Ball!!! Smile

Johnno75 · Joined: 07 Oct 2010 Location: Wantirna

Yeah I don't think he was forced out. Bucks would have had a realistic chat with him but ultimately would have left it up to Ball. A champion player and bloke.

Hopefully the club keep him around in some capacity.

Still fondly remember his goal in the 2011 prelim just as the Dawks fans were laughing at us after Buddies arse goal and thinking they were home.