1. Luke Patrick Ball was born on 25 May 1984 and is a former professional Australian rules football player who played for the St Kilda and Collingwood football clubs in the Australian Football League.
36 Facts About Luke Ball
1. 2.
Luke Ball is one of the only players in AFL history to have played in four consecutive grand finals for two clubs; for St Kilda in 2009 and for Collingwood in 2010, the 2010 replay and 2011.
3.
Luke Ball is the younger brother of Hawthorn player Matthew Luke Ball, both of whom played for the local football club at Ashburton in their junior years.
4.
Luke Ball's father, Ray Ball, was a footballer, who played for Richmond and South Melbourne.
5.
Luke Ball was drafted to the St Kilda Football Club in 2001 with the priority pick in the AFL Draft.
6.
Luke Ball debuted in 2003 after having injury problems and choosing to play football for Xavier College in his final school year.
7.
Luke Ball finished his schooling with a VCE ENTER score of 98.8.
8.
Luke Ball played 16 games and averaged 15.8 disposals per game in a solid first season.
9.
Luke Ball played in St Kilda's 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup winning side, the club's second pre-season cup win.
10.
In 2004, Luke Ball averaged 20 disposals and 5 tackles per game.
11.
Luke Ball pushed forward to boot 17 goals for the season.
12.
In 2005 Luke Ball won the Trevor Barker Award for St Kilda's best and fairest player, tying with Steven Baker.
13.
Luke Ball was recognised for his excellent season with selection in the 2005 All-Australian Team as a midfield player, his first All-Australian Team award.
14.
Luke Ball averaged 22 disposals and 5.3 tackles per game.
15.
When Nick Riewoldt was injured in the opening round of the 2005 season, Luke Ball was appointed as acting captain.
16.
In 2006 Luke Ball was announced as the St Kilda captain, succeeding Nick Riewoldt under the Saints' then rotational captaincy policy.
17.
Luke Ball was slightly down on his 2005 form, but still managed to average 21.9 touches and play 21 games in his first season as St Kilda captain.
18.
In 2007 Luke Ball was co-captain along with Lenny Hayes and Riewoldt.
19.
Luke Ball played a total of 18 games of the home and away season - picking up 345 disposals, 5 goals and 91 tackles.
20.
Luke Ball played in St Kilda's 2008 NAB Cup winning side - St Kilda's third pre-season cup win.
21.
In 2008 Luke Ball again missed only four games with injury - picking up 392 disposals, 7 goals and 107 tackles.
22.
Luke Ball played in 17 of 22 matches in the 2009 AFL season home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the finals, winning the club's third minor premiership.
23.
Luke Ball played in the grand final when St Kilda was defeated by 12 points.
24.
Luke Ball is a Collingwood player now and that's his future and it's not for me to talk about our expectations.
25.
Luke Ball walked out on St Kilda, of which he had a million dollar-plus contract on the table.
26.
Luke Ball made his Collingwood debut in the NAB Cup first round, coincidentally against St Kilda, his former club.
27.
The Magpies won the game by 36 points with Luke Ball having 18 disposals.
28.
Luke Ball had another stellar season in the midfield whilst joining Collingwood's leadership group, he averaged 21.5 disposals and laid 166 tackles in 24 matches.
29.
Luke Ball returned to form in front of goal after having much criticism for his goal kicking, he answered his critics by slotting 18.3 for the season.
30.
Luke Ball started off the 2012 season by being elected the President of the AFL players association.
31.
Luke Ball was appointed acting captain in Collingwood's first NAB cup game.
32.
Hamstring issues delayed Luke Ball's start to the season and then played in the VFL to get his form back.
33.
Luke Ball recorded 26 possessions and eight clearances on his return against Bendigo during a Friday night VFL fixture at the Queen Elizabeth Oval and was summoned to AFL ranks two weeks later.
34.
Luke Ball returned from a knee reconstruction in round eight against Geelong.
35.
Luke Ball went on to produce a consistent season punctured by three one-week layoffs with calf complaints.
36.
On his mother Jenny's side of the family, Luke Ball is the grandson of former St Kilda footballer Felix Russo and nephew of former Hawthorn and St Kilda footballer Peter Russo.