SA Footy

What brought about the demise of the Ross Faulkner and Burley footies?

Once upon a time there was genuine competition between the Sherrin and the Faulkner and the Burley dominated in the West. What happened? Do Faulkner and Burley have any market these days, or does Sherrin just about have a monopoly? Does the AFL have an 'official ball' an if so, how often is this reviewed?

I remember the State of Origin games vs WA, and having to use the Burley was always a talking point. I think one club (Sturt?) may have even had the Burley as its ball of choice at one stage, holding a view that regularly using it might provide them with an advantage over opposition clubs less familiar with it.

How could there be that much difference between the different brands anyway?

Hate to be a breaker of bad news but Glenelg use the Burley as can be seen in this pic, with Benny Kane.



They change the ball at half time. In this game we played Sturt and changed to the Sherrin.

Interesting post squawk. I reckon the Ross Faulkner I had as a kid (an ex-match ball from Westies) was the best footy I've ever come across, because you could execute any kick with it. My view is that it was more rounded at the ends than the Sherrin is, so drop kicks were far easier. The pointiness of the Sherrin makes a drop kick now extremely difficult. But it makes the drop punt easier and, that being the preferred kick of the times, my guess is that's why they've gone with it.

I think you can still get Burleys. They were a bit more rounded than Sherrins too and back in the 70s were regarded as a better wet weather and night footy ball.

sherrin all day, every day.

Sherrins without doubt...had to train with BURLEYS a couple of years ago and they just floated and got really slippery if there was any sign of dew...which there always was at North Haven.

Mr T.W.

Id take Sherrin, although I loved the Faulkners aswell, seemed to be a better ball for marking (although I have no factual basis for that lol)

I've got a Burley myself, you can buy the "Premier Burley" (some SANFL clubs use and officially endorsed by the SANFL, WAFL, VFA and NT AFL), from the wholsaler Parkinson and Blunden I think it is, it's on Rundle Street Kentown just up the road from the Tap Inn hotel. As far as I'm concerned Norwood use Burley as do some other clubs, reason I am positive about Norwood is that I have quite a few mates who have been playing juniors for the Redlegs.

For accuracy I prefer the Burley, much easier to stab pass and find a target. But I do agree, if there is slight dew or water on the ball it makes it extremely hard to mark or control. Sherrins hold up best in the weather, but I find a brand new Sherrin can occassionaly be out of shape.

the barossa, light and gawler league use burleys as they sponser the league i think

Doesn't the Sherrin cut the air better than the rest...?

Over all conditions......

Sherrins.

Played with Burleys as well and while it does not make a great deal of difference i prefer the Sherrin

I used all three during my footy career.
None of them helped my kicking

Always found the Faulkner hard to grab.

Burley light and floaty agree with the slippery call as well.

Whyalla changed to the Burleys in 2006, I had only used Sherrins until then and it was a marked difference and took some adjusting to.

Same switching back.

Any other country leagues go the Burley's? Riverland uses Sherrins.

Reckon it was only Faulkners in my day - the occasional yellow, slippery as soap in the wet, Burley for training in the gloom.

Burleys
Sherrins

Daylight






Daylight


Faulkner

Constance_Perm wrote:Id take Sherrin, although I loved the Faulkners aswell, seemed to be a better ball for marking (although I have no factual basis for that lol)

LMAO.

South used to use Kookaburra's as well. I recall them playing at Adelaide oval - late 70's early 80's using one. They might not have been the only team to use them but I remember South distinctly because I owned a Kooka at that time and thought they were the best.

gadj1976 wrote:South used to use Kookaburra's as well. I recall them playing at Adelaide oval - late 70's early 80's using one. They might not have been the only team to use them but I remember South distinctly because I owned a Kooka at that time and thought they were the best.

Correct ! I pinched one off Stuey Palmer when he came to our school !

I found the Sherrins by far the best ball.
The Faulkners were heavier & pointier than the Sherrin & a nightmare in wet conditions.
The Burley Ball was alot like the Lyrebird Ball too light.
But thats only my prediction. Who am i to take notice of.

This is a real memory jogger... someone (Bayman?) may be able to add some detail...
I vaguely recall a game at the Bay in the late 60's, against North I think. Glenelg had been to Perth to play a pre-season trial game and Neil Kerley came back suggesting that Glenelg would start using a Burley ball in their home games cause the Burley didn't get as heavy in the wet. The Bay was a bog in those days.

Anyway... at some stage in the game against North, a goal was scored but the ball was not returned from the crowd. After some time had elapsed the Glenelg bench threw out a Burley ball at which point a North trainer or runner promptly picked up the ball and booted it into the crowd... the game was re-started with a Faulkner...

Does anyone recall this??