Ball a Magpie
26/11/2009 7:07 PM
Former St Kilda players Luke Ball and Matt Maguire have new homes with Ball picked up by Collingwood with pick No.30 and Maguire going to Brisbane at No.91.
Ball played 142 games with St Kilda, but had decided to leave the club which picked him at No.2 in the 2001 National Draft after struggling to maintain his position in the team this season.
The heart-breaking 12-point Grand Final loss to Geelong was to be Ball's final game for the Saints, who failed to find a suitable trade deal in the aftermath of the season.
He and the club officially parted ways earlier this month and he nominated for the National Draft. Collingwood had made no secret of the fact that it wanted his services, but Melbourne and Essendon had also expressed their interest.
However, Melbourne passed up its shot at pick 18 and when Essendon also opted for a younger player with pick 26, it was clear the Pies would get their man.
Maguire had been training with Carlton and met with Hawthorn, but it is Brisbane which has offered him a lifeline with the last pick of the draft.
Rhan Hooper, the former Brisbane forward, was picked up by Hawthorn with pick 58, while St Kilda snaffled Jesse Smith with pick 60 and Adam Pattison with 64. Simon Buckley, formerly of Melbourne, was picked up at 85 by Collingwood.