Mention ball held in Western Oval (8)

I believe the answer is:

elliptic

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'oval' is the definition.
(synonyms)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for elliptic that I've seen before include "Egg-shaped" , "Of a conical section" , "Rounded like an egg" , "circular? Not quite" , "it's not quite round" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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