Tweet
Ball: nowhere man now leader of the pack
By Jessica Halloran
June 11 2003
It was in the west on the hard Perth ovals that he became a footballer. It was in the west that he was a prolific goalkicker and where he helped his team win a premiership.
As a young footballer, Jason Ball showed off some of his most brilliant skills with the West Coast Eagles.
But then his career dipped, injury hit, and in Ball's words he was "sort of going nowhere".
He said he just needed a change of environment. His goalkicking wasn't what it was in 1995, when he bagged 48 goals, so it was agreed that he be traded to the Swans at the end of 1999.
Sydney has been both kind and cruel to the 30-year-old ruckman. Right now it's very kind.
In 2001 he was among Sydney's best and helped the Swans to the finals. But in the 2002 pre-season, he ripped a groin muscle from his pelvis and spent the year watching from the stands.
Ball's injury has now healed and he's back on the ground showing the impact he can have on a football team, just as he did during his best years with the Eagles.
"The difference between West Coast and Sydney is that it's a positive environment," Ball said. "Playing finals footy with the Eagles, there was a lot of expectation on the team. There was a lot of media scrutiny. Here the coaching staff are really positive. I'm definitely enjoying footy a lot more now."
Ball said he's nearly 100 per cent fit, and this athleticism is obvious in his football. He is leading the club stats in hit-outs yet is still humble about the impact he is having on the team.
"In terms of form, I've been given a lot of opportunities. I'm very lucky," Ball said.
Someone who is willing to heap praise on him is former Essendon ruckman and premiership player Paul Salmon, who believes Ball has contributed hugely to the Swans' success this year, helping them to seven wins from 11 rounds.
"I think Jason has crossed the line from an important, strong player to a critical part of the Swans line-up. The way he uses the body and his touch, the way he plays is fantastic," Salmon said. "Ask me who I would have in the ruck, I would take Jason. I think [Adam] Goodes is better as a ruck-rover.
"Jason makes a noticeable difference to the team when he goes on the ball, when he's rucking."
Although Ball stands at 200 centimetres, Salmon said he performs well for his height against some of the bigger ruckmen of the competition.
According to Ball, the coaching staff have shown patience with his return to football and did not put much pressure on him in the off-season.
"Injuries have cost me a lot of games in the past but I now know my body and what situations not to put it in," he said.
Swans coach Paul Roos believes Ball has been outstanding.
"I think that what he has been able to do is extraordinary," Roos said. "To miss a year of footy in anyone's career . . . at the end of your career rather than the start is even more difficult. I think Ballie has done a fantastic job."
At the end of the year Ball's contract will expire. What will happen then?
"I'll have a chat with Paul and my wife," Ball said.
The Swans survived the weekend free of injury, but defender Jason Saddington is still unlikely to be fit to play against the Western Bulldogs at the SCG this Saturday night.
By Jessica Halloran
June 11 2003
It was in the west on the hard Perth ovals that he became a footballer. It was in the west that he was a prolific goalkicker and where he helped his team win a premiership.
As a young footballer, Jason Ball showed off some of his most brilliant skills with the West Coast Eagles.
But then his career dipped, injury hit, and in Ball's words he was "sort of going nowhere".
He said he just needed a change of environment. His goalkicking wasn't what it was in 1995, when he bagged 48 goals, so it was agreed that he be traded to the Swans at the end of 1999.
Sydney has been both kind and cruel to the 30-year-old ruckman. Right now it's very kind.
In 2001 he was among Sydney's best and helped the Swans to the finals. But in the 2002 pre-season, he ripped a groin muscle from his pelvis and spent the year watching from the stands.
Ball's injury has now healed and he's back on the ground showing the impact he can have on a football team, just as he did during his best years with the Eagles.
"The difference between West Coast and Sydney is that it's a positive environment," Ball said. "Playing finals footy with the Eagles, there was a lot of expectation on the team. There was a lot of media scrutiny. Here the coaching staff are really positive. I'm definitely enjoying footy a lot more now."
Ball said he's nearly 100 per cent fit, and this athleticism is obvious in his football. He is leading the club stats in hit-outs yet is still humble about the impact he is having on the team.
"In terms of form, I've been given a lot of opportunities. I'm very lucky," Ball said.
Someone who is willing to heap praise on him is former Essendon ruckman and premiership player Paul Salmon, who believes Ball has contributed hugely to the Swans' success this year, helping them to seven wins from 11 rounds.
"I think Jason has crossed the line from an important, strong player to a critical part of the Swans line-up. The way he uses the body and his touch, the way he plays is fantastic," Salmon said. "Ask me who I would have in the ruck, I would take Jason. I think [Adam] Goodes is better as a ruck-rover.
"Jason makes a noticeable difference to the team when he goes on the ball, when he's rucking."
Although Ball stands at 200 centimetres, Salmon said he performs well for his height against some of the bigger ruckmen of the competition.
According to Ball, the coaching staff have shown patience with his return to football and did not put much pressure on him in the off-season.
"Injuries have cost me a lot of games in the past but I now know my body and what situations not to put it in," he said.
Swans coach Paul Roos believes Ball has been outstanding.
"I think that what he has been able to do is extraordinary," Roos said. "To miss a year of footy in anyone's career . . . at the end of your career rather than the start is even more difficult. I think Ballie has done a fantastic job."
At the end of the year Ball's contract will expire. What will happen then?
"I'll have a chat with Paul and my wife," Ball said.
The Swans survived the weekend free of injury, but defender Jason Saddington is still unlikely to be fit to play against the Western Bulldogs at the SCG this Saturday night.
Comment