Luke Ball poses for a photo during a Collingwood press conference on November 27, 2009. Picture: AFL Photos

PLAYER agent Paul Connors has recalled the Deadline Day tension as Luke Ball attempted to land a trade from St Kilda to Collingwood.

After 142 games for the Saints, Ball – the No.2 pick in the 2001 draft – requested a trade to the Magpies at the end of 2009.

>> Get your tickets to the Superdraft launch event HERE

But Ball's bid to get to Collingwood fell short in the trade period amid a tense final day, as Connors recalled in Superdraft, the upcoming AFL.com.au documentary about the greatest draft in AFL history.

"Last day of trade, 'Bally' is still not done, it was tense," Connors said.

"So much so we were at Marvel Stadium, all the clubs are there on the last day, I thought 'we'll get Luke Ball to Marvel Stadium, we'll get him in the room with Ross (Lyon, Saints coach) and we'll plead his case'.

"We got Luke to go through the kitchen, it was like secret service stuff. He came through the back door, through the kitchen then up to this communal area.

02:02

"I remember John Longmire was in the communal area room, he goes, 'You're not going to get this done, you're not going to get it done', meaning Ross wasn't going to do it, Ross will have ice in his veins and he'll stick to his knitting.

"We went into the room, Luke being nice as nice, just pleading his case, 'Can you please do it?'

"I wasn't as nice and I think Ross said 'I think that's enough and time's up' and we got out and I think I slammed the door and told them all to p*** off and the trade's not done."

01:49

With no trade agreed, Ball took the chance by nominating for the draft at the end of 2009.

"The pressure was on because we hadn't got the trade done," Connors said.

"We've declared we want to go and we want to get our man to where we said, we pride ourselves on that, so Luke was stressed."

>> Get your tickets to the Superdraft launch event HERE

In the end, Ball got his desired move as Collingwood selected the midfielder with pick No.30 in the draft, with multiple rival clubs overlooking the former Saints captain who had made it clear he wanted to be a Magpie. 

He went on to play 81 games for the Pies, including the 2010 Grand Final win over St Kilda.

Be among the first to watch the debut episode of Superdraft at our launch event on Monday, November 16 at Marvel Stadium. Cal Twomey and Riley Beveridge will bring a special live episode of Gettable to the stage and Nat Edwards will also hosts a live Q&A with special guests including Dermott Brereton, Paul Connors and Caroline Wilson.