Ball, 30, is off contract this season but a calf problem has limited him to 16 matches. His statistics in all major areas have slipped. He was used as a substitute against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday but impressed with his tenacity as the injury-hit Magpies' held on for a crucial win.

"Bally and I spoke a couple of months ago and decided to leave it until the end of the year. When that is, we will sit down and he will have a chat to me about where he feels he is at and where his body has got to, and I will speak to him on behalf of the club," Buckley said on Wednesday.

"He has played important roles for us. We can never ask Bally for any more effort or endeavour. He lets it all hang out and turns himself inside out to provide for the footy club and his teammates. We know the character of the bloke. We know exactly what we are going to get."

Ball's hopes of playing on could be inadvertently helped by a serious knee injury to teammate Brent Macaffer, who is likely to miss most of next season.

"That's part of it. It all goes into the mix," Buckley said.

Ball has a seasoned body, which could particularly help during the tough winter months next year but he may have to be prepared to spend more time in the VFL if the Magpies opt to usher more speed into their midfield.

"In the end, it is going to be his perspective on where he sits. I know he had a comment to make on radio yesterday but, when we sit down in the cold, hard light of day and we consider and go through what the future looks like for the club and his opportunities, then we will come to a decision after that," Buckley said.

In a radio interview earlier this week, Ball said he was keen to play on.

"I've had a look at both scenarios in the last couple of weeks and I still feel like I've got enough competitive juice in the body to go again. But the club might decide that it's time to go another way," the 222-game veteran said.

The Magpies hope Ball's veteran nous will aid their cause on Friday night when they face Hawthorn at the MCG. The Magpies, behind eighth-placed Richmond on percentage but a game ahead of West Coast and Adelaide, must win to have a chance of making the finals.

Veteran defender Heritier Lumumba (corked thigh) and goal-kicking small forward Jamie Elliott (hamstring) trained well on Wednesday and are firmly in line to boost a side that had lost 11 of its best 22 players to injury in the past fortnight.

If the Magpies lose on Friday night, president Eddie McGuire, chief executive Gary Pert, football department chief Rodney Eade and Buckley are set to front an unprecedented member forum as early as Monday night to explain the injury issues and why they did not make the finals.