Luke Ball dismisses rumour of Collingwood players’ ‘petition’ to keep Malthouse

Premiership Magpie Luke Ball has dismissed the idea that Collingwood players started a petition to stop the club handing the coaching role from Mick Malthouse to Nathan Buckley.

But he said it would be ‘naive’ to think there weren’t players who preferred Malthouse.

Speaking on 3AW Football, Ball said Malthouse was the first coach for a lot of the players.

‘The coach is there when you come in, nurtures you and forms a great relationship with you – when he leaves, it’s tough,’ Ball said.

‘So I assume that there would have been some mixed feelings about the handover.

‘I don’t think it got to a stage where they signed a petition – I certainly wasn’t aware of that.’

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