Time for a ball re-design?

[OnSong]

Just read a piece floating the idea of reworking the design of your standard match ball.

Using the soccer ball (or football for the purists out there) as an example, it is frequently under the microscope with changes to its design and material specifications.

For a round ball filled with air, it is a very complex piece of equipment nowadays and has been for quite some time.

Those who remember the Adidas Jabulani used in the 2010 World Cup would remember it came under fire for being a bit floaty etc but apparently sold record numbers.

To me, no football has ever topped the Sherrin, although we use the Burley in our competition (ack).

So, what do we reckon? Dabble with synthetics and stitching techniques etc or happy to continue down the line of consistency we have for the last few decades?

[woodublieve12]

Do not touch the sherrin....

[Dogwatcher]

I think there's been lots of change over the years.
Look back at some of the older photos and you'll see the balls were a lot rounder.
Even as a kid, I think my first footy was a lot rounder than the balls are today.
In the late 80s I think they started to streamline them a bit more and I think you'll find the balls are lot lighter now than they used to be.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't look at different designs - I'm just suggesting design hasn't been as stagnant as you might think.

I've never used the word balls so often in a post.

Balls.

[OnSong]

My balls have certainly changed over the years...

[heater31]

My balls have certainly changed over the years...

Blue?

[OnSong]

But back on the topic at hand, yeah, I'm sure they've changed a bit but not quite to the degree soccer (or football) has gone.

We've always used red or yellow ones, so colour hasn't changed much.

Occasionally the ball has been pink on the special occasions etc but ideas to take the stitch lines out of it etc haven't been dabbled with much.

[OnSong]

My balls have certainly changed over the years...

Blue?

Lol. Certainly are lately.

[Fricky]

I think there's been lots of change over the years.
Look back at some of the older photos and you'll see the balls were a lot rounder.
Even as a kid, I think my first footy was a lot rounder than the balls are today.
In the late 80s I think they started to streamline them a bit more and I think you'll find the balls are lot lighter now than they used to be.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't look at different designs - I'm just suggesting design hasn't been as stagnant as you might think.

I've never used the word balls so often in a post.

Balls.

The balls were rounder because they didn't always use new balls for each game. These balls would have been used before, at training or perhaps in another game, like we do in the ammos. Today, the balls are taken out of the plastic on game day and pumped up. Probably use two balls per game, a new one for each half. I doubt in the 70s and 80s they were paying for a new ball each game

[Pag]

I hate using a brand new footy out of the bag, needs to be used at training for a week before used on the Saturday IMO.

Once at this stage, the Sherrin absolutely shits all over a Burley. Used a Burley in a trial game this year and nobody in our side could kick the thing whatsoever. Horrible piece of leather.

[OnSong]

I hate using a brand new footy out of the bag, needs to be used at training for a week before used on the Saturday IMO.

Once at this stage, the Sherrin absolutely shits all over a Burley. Used a Burley in a trial game this year and nobody in our side could kick the thing whatsoever. Horrible piece of leather.

Yeah, after three weeks or so the Sherrins a like silk. There's a lot more margin for error with a Sherrin too, the Burley accentuates the smallest skill slip to make a bit of a skew into an outright shank.

Mind you, it is nice to dream of better Sherrin.

[Mythical Creature]

What's a Sherrin?

[Dogwatcher]

I think there's been lots of change over the years.
Look back at some of the older photos and you'll see the balls were a lot rounder.
Even as a kid, I think my first footy was a lot rounder than the balls are today.
In the late 80s I think they started to streamline them a bit more and I think you'll find the balls are lot lighter now than they used to be.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't look at different designs - I'm just suggesting design hasn't been as stagnant as you might think.

I've never used the word balls so often in a post.

Balls.

The balls were rounder because they didn't always use new balls for each game. These balls would have been used before, at training or perhaps in another game, like we do in the ammos. Today, the balls are taken out of the plastic on game day and pumped up. Probably use two balls per game, a new one for each half. I doubt in the 70s and 80s they were paying for a new ball each game

In the 80s, I'm pretty certain they were new balls at the start of the game. They were at my local club in the late 80s, so I'm pretty certain they would have been at SANFL level.
They were still rounder then than they are now. Just my observation. I could well be wrong.

[Mr Beefy]

I think there's been lots of change over the years.
Look back at some of the older photos and you'll see the balls were a lot rounder.
Even as a kid, I think my first footy was a lot rounder than the balls are today.
In the late 80s I think they started to streamline them a bit more and I think you'll find the balls are lot lighter now than they used to be.
I'm not saying that we shouldn't look at different designs - I'm just suggesting design hasn't been as stagnant as you might think.

I've never used the word balls so often in a post.

Balls.

The balls were rounder because they didn't always use new balls for each game. These balls would have been used before, at training or perhaps in another game, like we do in the ammos. Today, the balls are taken out of the plastic on game day and pumped up. Probably use two balls per game, a new one for each half. I doubt in the 70s and 80s they were paying for a new ball each game

In the 80s, I'm pretty certain they were new balls at the start of the game. They were at my local club in the late 80s, so I'm pretty certain they would have been at SANFL level.
They were still rounder then than they are now. Just my observation. I could well be wrong.

new Ross Faulkners were the go back in tge 80s

[gadj1976]

South Adelaide used to use a Kookaburra - a favourite of mine back in the 70s and 80s.

Worst footies - Faulkner (too pointy), Burley (too pointy), Match (bloated bloatfish)

This thread - don't get it personally. Why would you redesign perfection?

[the joker]

South Adelaide used to use a Kookaburra - a favourite of mine back in the 70s and 80s.

Worst footies - Faulkner (too pointy), Burley (too pointy), Match (bloated bloatfish)

This thread - don't get it personally. Why would you redesign perfection?

burley too pointy? You ever kicked one?


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[JK]

The Faulkners were great .. Best for marking and Torps back in the day the latter was more in vogue

[The Dark Knight]

The Faulkners were great .. Best for marking and Torps back in the day the latter was more in vogue

Yes Faulkners were awesome for a Torpie!

[The Dark Knight]

South Adelaide used to use a Kookaburra - a favourite of mine back in the 70s and 80s.

Worst footies - Faulkner (too pointy), Burley (too pointy), Match (bloated bloatfish)

This thread - don't get it personally. Why would you redesign perfection?

Back I played footy in primary school we played with Kookaburras.

[valleys07]

Do not touch the sherrin....

This.

[gadj1976]

South Adelaide used to use a Kookaburra - a favourite of mine back in the 70s and 80s.

Worst footies - Faulkner (too pointy), Burley (too pointy), Match (bloated bloatfish)

This thread - don't get it personally. Why would you redesign perfection?

burley too pointy? You ever kicked one?


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Na mate, I often have views on things I've never experienced

;-)

Tonight in fact, wobbled like a mongrel in an attempt at a torp. Actually thinking about it, I think the problem with the Burley's is that they are not weighted properly, they seem a bit heavier at each end than a Sherrin.