ST KILDA'S Luke Ball has Luke Hodge in his sights this season and he's not just aiming to dethrone the Norm Smith Medallist or premier Hawthorn on the field.
Ball's also cleared some time and head space for the Toyota AFL Dream Team's player competition, which will pit him against a star from each of the other 15 clubs.
The final 16 players are still to be finalised but Hodge, selected ahead of Ball in the 2001 NAB AFL Draft, is the man he particularly wants to beat.
"In the Dream Team competition, I’m representing the Saints and I don’t want to let the side down by being at the bottom of the ladder," Ball said.
"You look at a few of the other boys in the League, especially those you might know a bit, and you can start to get pretty competitive.
"For me, Hodgey is the one guy I really want to beat. Obviously, we’ve known each other since the juniors and now we share the same manager and see each other in his office occasionally, so I don’t want to have to face him if he’s trouncing me."
Ball, who has made a full recovery from the hamstring injury that kept him out of the Saints' 2008 finals campaign, is confident of his chances in this year's competition. He has been a regular finalist in the four seasons he has played Dream Team.
"I’ve been thereabouts most years. I came close to winning one year but have never got the chocolates," he said. "Hopefully, this is my year."
Ball revealed that his consistent Dream Team results have been based on a selection policy of sticking with players who have done well for him in the past – and typically they are high possession-winners.
From there, he backs his hunches, selecting the young players he thinks will emerge and get a regular AFL game.
Ball said the Saints have not had many youngsters who have made a quick transition to the seniors in recent years, but suspects that might change in 2009.
Always the competitor, he is keeping the names of any such players to himself.
"There might just be one or two young Saints who might just be in line for a regular game this year and that bit of insider knowledge could help me a bit," he said.
Not that Ball is taking the competition too seriously.
"Above all, it’s a bit of fun," he said. "Sure, you want to win but it’s mostly a good talking point with the boys."
Click here to register for Toyota AFL Dream Team 2009.
NOTE MOBILE USERS: YOU WILL INCUR DATA CHARGES IF YOU CLICK ON THE LINKS WITHIN THIS ARTICLE FROM YOUR MOBILE PHONE
