> Watch assistant coaches Nathan Buckley, Mark Neeld and Scott Watters address the media on WednesdayCOLLINGWOOD midfielder Luke Ball has successfully completed a one-hour training session on Wednesday morning and is set to take his place in the line-up for Saturday's grand final.
Click here to recap the live chat from Gosch's Paddock.
He hit the track in front of approximately 10,000 Magpies supporters at Gosch’s Paddock and did everything asked of him during the light session.
Ball, 26, threw a scare into the Pies’ camp when he limped from the MCG with what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury during last Friday’s preliminary final victory over Geelong.
The former Saint looked no chance to play against his old side in the premiership decider as he awkwardly went down the race with his left leg locked straight, but coach Mick Malthouse was quickly advised the suspected injury was actually a severe case of cramp.
Assistant coach Mark Neeld said the medical analysis since then had backed up that initial diagnosis with his work on the track further evidence of his fitness.
“Bally got through training ... he did everything we wanted him to do,” Neeld said at the conclusion of the session. “They’ll give us the medical report and we’ll go and choose the side from there, but from a footy coach’s point-of-view he trained in every activity that we did so that’s a positive.
“Saturday afternoon he’ll be working a lot harder than what he did then. At this time of year training takes the form of recovery/preparation and that’s all it can be.
“Mick felt there was no need to get him back on the ground on Friday night and that the other boys out there could carry the load. Right from the word go the word came up that it was cramp and it’s been treated as such.
“That’s the reason that we’ve been bullish ... we’ve had no reason to be otherwise. Certainly as a coaching group we want Bally out there; he’s got a role to play. He’ll be there.”
Ball was in good spirits and wore no strapping on his suspect hamstring at training.
He kicked with his left foot a number of times as well as having a few long shots at goal with his right boot.
After the main group left the track a number of players including Simon Prestigiacomo, Paul Medhurst and Leon Davis remained for extra work.
