[SERIOUS] The shape of the ball is a huge part of what makes AFL great

[Always Ballin]

The way the ball bounces create an element of luck that plays a large factor in the outcome of games. I'm sitting here, watching the WAFL grand final; Claremont just kicked two goals in large part to how the ball bounced in a contest.

The game would be significantly less entertaining if the ball was shaped like a soccer ball.

 

[CharacterFirst]

The shape of our ground is a huge part of what makes Geelong great.

Mmmmmm.......cheat ground.

 

[M Malice]

 

[Cubs2Lions]

The shape of our ground is a huge part of what makes Geelong great.

Mmmmmm.......cheat ground.

 

[SBYM]

 

[Always Ballin]

Guys, this is the main forum, not Bay 13. I've reported all of your posts and added a [SERIOUS] tag to the thread.

 

[PrinceCharles]

I agree

 

[Defabs]

The likelihood of the ball bouncing the way it did in the 2010 GF was probably 1%. If it was shaped like a soccer ball, St Kilda would have their second premiership.

 

[Atomboy]

The likelihood of the ball bouncing the way it did in the 2010 GF was probably 1%. If it was shaped like a soccer ball, St Kilda would have their second premiership.

Stoopid sexy AFL ball shaped ball

 

[Cursed Cat]

The way the ball bounces create an element of luck that plays a large factor in the outcome of games. I'm sitting here, watching the WAFL grand final; Claremont just kicked two goals in large part to how the ball bounced in a contest.

The game would be significantly less entertaining if the ball was shaped like a soccer ball.

It's a really interesting way of looking at it - more than just ''luck'' though, the shape of the ball and the occasional - but not always! - randomness of its bounce presents Aussie Rules athletes with the challenge of micro-adjusting their decision making processes to allow/account for that sometimes-but-not-always semi-true bounce of the oval ball.

 

[Meteoric Rise]

The way the ball bounces create an element of luck that plays a large factor in the outcome of games. I'm sitting here, watching the WAFL grand final; Claremont just kicked two goals in large part to how the ball bounced in a contest.

The game would be significantly less entertaining if the ball was shaped like a soccer ball.

You clearly haven’t watched enough dodge ball.

Just report that part of my post because the next part is serious.

I always noticed in coaching cricketers the ones who played (Aus)football seemed to have much more lateral agility than those who didn’t play our sport. I always put that down in part to the shape of the ball where you need to be on your toes and ready to change direction rapidly whilst trying to trap a loose ball. When I played footy we often did extra practice after training as well kicking mongrel kicks as high as we could to a player or players trying to mark overhead, sometimes in a contest sometimes uncontested. Even uncontested it isn’t always easy to mark a skied finger breaker, especially in your hands. The other favourite was kicking low mongrel rockets and trying to handle those from about 10 or 15 metres from the kicker.

The random flight or bounce of our ball is a great and underrated element of our game. I once got destroyed by involuntarily smothering a wet miskick with my face from close range. That wasn’t so enjoyable. . That’s why I prefer dodgeball where the involuntary facial smother can be experienced by more people.

 

[Osho]

The likelihood of the ball bouncing the way it did in the 2010 GF was probably 1%. If it was shaped like a soccer ball, St Kilda would have their second premiership.

Not if the ball was round for the whole game. Unless you meant the ball shape changed to round just for that moment?

 

[Osho]

You clearly haven’t watched enough dodge ball.

Just report that part of my post because the next part is serious.

I always noticed in coaching cricketers the ones who played (Aus)football seemed to have much more lateral agility than those who didn’t play our sport. I always put that down in part to the shape of the ball where you need to be on your toes and ready to change direction rapidly whilst trying to trap a loose ball. When I played footy we often did extra practice after training as well kicking mongrel kicks as high as we could to a player or players trying to mark overhead, sometimes in a contest sometimes uncontested. Even uncontested it isn’t always easy to mark a skied finger breaker, especially in your hands. The other favourite was kicking low mongrel rockets and trying to handle those from about 10 or 15 metres from the kicker.

The random flight or bounce of our ball is a great and underrated element of our game. I once got destroyed by involuntarily smothering a wet miskick with my face from close range. That wasn’t so enjoyable. . That’s why I prefer dodgeball where the involuntary facial smother can be experienced by more people.

My first coach taught us to always attack the bouncing ball direct and fast and try to get it on the half volley to nullify unpredictable bounces.

A later coach came in and said, nah, need to take a bit of a look before committing, swore you could be smarter about it in many cases.

 

[Lensen]

the bit that'll really cook your noggin is that the game is better when the same randomness is applied to ball ups, but coaches successfully sold that it needs to be straight up for fairness (when really it was for them to be able to have more control over structures)

 

[iameviljez]

Other thing: you cannot kick a round ball as far.

 

[kickazz]

the bit that'll really cook your noggin is that the game is better when the same randomness is applied to ball ups, but coaches successfully sold that it needs to be straight up for fairness (when really it was for them to be able to have more control over structures)

Agreed.

Aside from really lop sided ball ups, the variation in bounces adds skill to the game.

A good ruckman can mitigate an unfavorable bounce more often than a poor ruckman can. Likewise, good ruckmen can exploit favourable bounces.

It brings different plays to the table too that the entire midfield team need to know and practice.

 

[ibd77]

Lets not forget how smooth and slippery the ball is when it gets wet. Suprised they havent considered puting a gripping texture on the ball yet to improve the spectacle of the game.

 

[RichLeMonde]

Even uncontested it isn’t always easy to mark a skied finger breaker, especially in your hands.

so you’re saying that it’s relatively easier to mark a skied finger breaker with some part of your body other than hands?

 

[Meteoric Rise]

so you’re saying that it’s relatively easier to mark a skied finger breaker with some part of your body other than hands?

Ever heard of a Fritsch mark? Used to be known as a chest mark.

My first coach taught us to always attack the bouncing ball direct and fast and try to get it on the half volley to nullify unpredictable bounces.

A later coach came in and said, nah, need to take a bit of a look before committing, swore you could be smarter about it in many cases.

I suppose the best of the best make up their minds which balls to attack and which ones to do the Dusty 2019 Grand Final (screamed)“didn't want the body contact, I’ve never seen anyink like it,” according the the partially intelligible Brain Taylor.

And to a great extent that relies upon the ability to instinctively and instantly perform a lot of calculations including the risk of one course of action versus another. So there can be no absolute rule to be applied to every situation, I guess other than it makes you predictable to your team-mates.

I coached local footy and cricket. I used to say to my players in both sports if you are in any doubt whether to advance or retreat then attack the ball, we can soon come and visit you in hospital and bring flowers to cheer you up etc.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

The way the ball bounces create an element of luck that plays a large factor in the outcome of games. I'm sitting here, watching the WAFL grand final; Claremont just kicked two goals in large part to how the ball bounced in a contest.

The game would be significantly less entertaining if the ball was shaped like a soccer ball.

I agree. The shape of the Sherrin is the great leveller. Up there with death and taxes.

 

[Jetafl]

Umpiring that is not noticed makes our game great.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

My first coach taught us to always attack the bouncing ball direct and fast and try to get it on the half volley to nullify unpredictable bounces.

A later coach came in and said, nah, need to take a bit of a look before committing, swore you could be smarter about it in many cases.

I’m with the second coach. As an armchair critic, it’s easy for me to find fault with professional AFL players with an opponent on their arse, but honestly, the number of times I find myself shouting at the telly “YOU GOOSE! You ran onto the ball instead of holding back to see which way it bounces! Even I could see that was going to happen!”

 

[RichLeMonde]

Ever heard of a Fritsch mark? Used to be known as a chest mark.

ah yes, the ol chest mark.

I still remember from my early childhood the Footscray full forward Simon Minton-Connell, who resolutely refused to go for anything other than chest marks. It was so consistent that it was almost like he lacked opposable thumbs

 

[Sky]

Rather use a rugby ball than a soccer ball

 

[Anzacpaul]

Lets not forget how smooth and slippery the ball is when it gets wet. Suprised they havent considered puting a gripping texture on the ball yet to improve the spectacle of the game.

AFL thinking of trialling this in the 2023 pre-season