TonyK
CibbuanoBall set to return against Bombers
August 20th 2008 02:02
ST KILDA midfielder Luke Ball says he is on track to return for the Saints' round 22 clash against Essendon.
Ball has missed the past two weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in the Saints’ round 18 victory over Port Adelaide.
“I’m coming on pretty well,” he said.
“I’ve started running, not very fast yet, but I’ll hopefully build that up today and through the rest of the week. I’m still aiming to be back for round 22 against Essendon.”
The 24-year-old admitted spending time on the sidelines at this stage of the season is frustrating.
“I’ve never done a hamstring before so (I don't) know what to expect or how to deal with it. This time of year it’s pretty frustrating to be sitting back and watching," he said.
The clash against the Crows at Telstra Dome on Sunday is St Kilda’s last home game of the year and will double as a tribute to retiring champion Robert Harvey.
But Ball said the Saints won't use the tribute to Harvey as a motivational tool nor will the emotion of the occasion distract the side from achieving its ultimate goal of getting the four premiership points to keep their finals hopes alive.
“That certainly won’t distract him or the players too much," he said.
"It will be business as usual. He announced his retirement two weeks ago and we came out and didn’t play very well against Collingwood so I don’t think we’ll be relying on that to get us going.
"I think all the motivation we need is that it will probably get us a finals' berth if we get the points. That’s all we’ll need.”
Ball has missed the past two weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in the Saints’ round 18 victory over Port Adelaide.
“I’m coming on pretty well,” he said.
“I’ve started running, not very fast yet, but I’ll hopefully build that up today and through the rest of the week. I’m still aiming to be back for round 22 against Essendon.”
The 24-year-old admitted spending time on the sidelines at this stage of the season is frustrating.
“I’ve never done a hamstring before so (I don't) know what to expect or how to deal with it. This time of year it’s pretty frustrating to be sitting back and watching," he said.
The clash against the Crows at Telstra Dome on Sunday is St Kilda’s last home game of the year and will double as a tribute to retiring champion Robert Harvey.
But Ball said the Saints won't use the tribute to Harvey as a motivational tool nor will the emotion of the occasion distract the side from achieving its ultimate goal of getting the four premiership points to keep their finals hopes alive.
“That certainly won’t distract him or the players too much," he said.
"It will be business as usual. He announced his retirement two weeks ago and we came out and didn’t play very well against Collingwood so I don’t think we’ll be relying on that to get us going.
"I think all the motivation we need is that it will probably get us a finals' berth if we get the points. That’s all we’ll need.”
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