Is Jason Ball set to recapture his 2001 form?

[thommoone]

well what do you think?
IMHO, YES!

[Mike_B]

If he stays injury-free, there's no reason why not!

[desredandwhite]

well.. one good performance a season does not make! (how's that for mangled grammar!)

AT his best, Bally is VERY important to the side. fingers crossed he DOES recapture his 2001 form, but I'm not holding my breath YET.

[Newbie]

Ball should stay one more year. After that, he should retire. We need him for next year, otherwise our ruck would be too thin. The year after next, we could well cover the ruck, hopefully without him.

[Roscoe]

He could play a few more years, rotating on the forward line,

backline (to counter people like Neitz), the ruck and the bench.

IF HE STAYS INJURY FREE - THE BIG IF !!!

[Charlie]

Newbie - couldn't disagree more. He should stay until he's no longer good enough. His retirement should be no earlier or later than the day that he can no longer get a game.

[Cheer Cheer]

Theres no doubt that Ball can recapture his 2001 form. He had a game reminisent of that year on anzac day which proves he still has it in him.
The only question is consistency. But he has been building nicely since coming back and is close to his peak at the moment.

[TheHood]

We won't ride into the finals on Bally's shoulders, however he had a magnificent match, no question.

His 2001 form was shocking for the first several rounds when he was being played at CHF on the SCG, he is not athletic enough to handle that tricky job. Once Rocket got wise and moved him onto the ball and he pushed up forward to kick goals, he was in the form of his career. Coincidentally, we made the finals after a year in the rucking wilderness.

That same good 2001 form was identical to Friday night's match, so my first impression is that Paul Roos is no dummy and is playing Bally in his optimal position, a ruckman who can take the ball out of the air very well and who also can sneak into the forward 50 where he is a good kick on goal.

I have said this all year, Ball, Goodes and Doyle (Mr Dodgy Legs) in ruck and forward duties, we are a formidable force. Just think about why the Pies are struggling at the moment, their 3 ruckmen/forwards are all struggling. They should be dominating!

By the way, do we need to start a BBD campaign? Bring Back Dunks is reasonable given we have to work twice as hard to avoid the ball going near the likes of Neitz. I am truly cringing at Lynchy the week after this and Llyody at TS. Who is the gun fodder that plans to stand in the holes that these monsters run into? Maybe we have found a practical role for Warfey???

[thommoone]

originally posted by The Hood

Who is the gun fodder that plans to stand in the holes that these monsters run into? Maybe we have found a practical role for Warfey???

RAOFL

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by TheHood
I am truly cringing at Lynchy the week after this

I was reading on Realfooty that Lynch is no certainty to play this week or next. It seems that he is having trouble with his chronic fatigue again, and with their game this week down in Geelong, and then here in Sydney the week after, Leigh Matthews has said he may not play, and that they will just assess it closer to game day.

[penga]

Originally posted by thommoone
originally posted by The Hood

RAOFL

here hear

[Ajn]

Need him while we have ruckmen who continually break down.
He was sorely missed last year after a stellar 2001.