Luke Ball Retires

[MJ23]

Robbos article mentioned he couldn't sit still on a couch for longer than 30 min because of his back.

Might just be that he was prepared to have surgery if he would be playing most of the games and that Bucks couldn't confirm that he would be playing most games.

We need games into Broomhead, Kennedy, adams, Thomas and hopefully Freeman etc or these blokes will see their future elsewhere.

[Beast]

We can rationalise the decision all we want but you'd have to be brain dead to think he wasn't pushed.

[Breadcrawl]

This thread isn't the place for an argument about whether he should have gone on and why he didn't.

Go start it somewhere else and I'll join in.

Especially to those who think he could have gone on, respect the man and keep this to tributes and expressions of gratitude and admiration.

For this man it should not be hard to do

[partypie]

Pushed or retired of own accord, who cares? ...I was so happy when he came to the Pies. I am sure he has left an indelible impression of professionalism on his teammates. Who can forget his goal in the 2011 PF? And I hope his back gets better.

[derkd]

We lose a champion of the ages. Been a great player, aside from the 2010 GF. Who can forget that snap to win us the game over the Hawks in 2011 Perlim.


It seems Grant Thomas thinks he was pushed:

Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas heaped praise on Ball, but questioned whether Collingwood had made the right call in encouraging him to retire.

"I hope to hell Collingwood knows what it's doing because I'm not convinced that Luke doesn't have another year to offer. Where they're posed at the moment is quite delicate, and they are in my view massively unders in relation to team leadership and experience. I would be really surprised if Luke Ball wasn't in the top ten of the competition for credidibility, charcter, integrity, leadership. In fact I think he'd be nearly be number one," Thomas said.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/collingwoods-luke-ball-to-retire-at-end-of-the-season-20140828-109mx0.html


He has a point, only in as much as we are already a young side, you don't want to lose too many senior players and become like Melbourne where the leadership vacuum can undermine players confidence.
[/i]

[themonk]

[derkd]

[MJ23]

[the fuzz]

Thanks for a great 5 years Bally!
Hope the boys all put in the effort tonight, and we get to see you pull the black and white on again next week!!
Go Pies!!!!

[uuuuu..... The LoneSTAR]

Good decision.
What a great player & from all reports an even better bloke to bring into The Club at such a perfect time for everyone.
Hats off to Luke Ball!

[ANNODAM]

Too bad Lukey couldn't get to 100 games for CFC just 9 short there (just looking in to the future for a father-son prospect perhaps...)

[Dave The Man]

Could we blame the Saints Destroying his Body before he got to Collingwood? and that is why he is not playing on?

[David]

Thanks for everything Luke. Almost three years since he got us into a grand final with a goal in the dying minutes against Hawthorn. Hope he gets a great send-off tonight.

[Piesnchess]

[Piesnchess]

Farewell Luke,you will always be a beloved Magpie to us, cheers mate. !