Smart Footballs

[In Judd we trust]

An Article on the AFL website talks about "Smart" Footballs that could become the official ball one day.

This is my Favourite part of the article

"Other than for coaching and media purposes, it could also be used for things like score reviews.

"At the moment we're only looking at a chip that's a positional locator.

"But the possibility is that in the future you could have some sort of motion sensor, which might assist with things like the ball hitting the post or being touched."

It would be an awesome fix! It would also reduce the time score reviews take.

What does big footy think?

 

[I am Jack]

They must be tired of tampering with the rules - now it's the footballs turn.

 

[wcesam]

Surely this is something that'd be pretty easy to implement with technology how it is these days, article makes it seem a bit farfetched

 

[In Judd we trust]

Surely this is something that'd be pretty easy to implement with technology how it is these days, article makes it seem a bit farfetched

You would think so. but then again, try getting a motion sensor/gps inside the ball and keep it protected enough to Survive hundreds of kicks and handballs along with bounces at stoppages and in general play. Would also need to keep the ball roughly the same weight.
Should Defenatly be getting funded and pushed hard by the AFL IMO.

 

[Catfish Alley]

Watch the NFL. If they do it, the AFL will follow.

 

[Catfish Alley]

It does seem like a fairly easy thing that could be designed. I think it will definitely happen in the near future. The possibilities are pretty cool. Golf clubs, soccer balls, hockey pucks etc.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

That would be a novelty, to have a ball which is smarter than the players.

 

[Crow_Magnon]

May help the situation with Port v Melbourne last weekend...apparently a few of the balls were flat and contributed to some awful shanks. (Note: can't believe this would occur in today's modern game - unless it was a bad batch with slow leaks not immediately apparent when they were inflated prior to the game).

 

[the_interloper]

Watch the NFL. If they do it, the AFL will follow.

I'd love a dollar for every time someone in the media says "Well in the NFL they..."

 

[replicant]

That would be a novelty, to have a ball which is smarter than the players.

I think with some players, we're already there

 

[Despair]

I think with some players, we're already there

 

[MrWusPigs]

this is a great idea but why stop there. they should put a camera in the ball too and maybe a little micriophone.

 

[PumpyChowdown]

I've been saying this for some time now. Have a GPS sensor IN the ball, and perhaps some new-fandangled techno coating on the ball, and external sensors on the goal posts and around the ground feeding real time information to the umpires.

You'd instantly know whether or not the ball hit the post, and distance of kicks would be instantly measured too. Just the umpire carrying the ball would be able to tell him an accurate 50m penalty. You'd know exactly how far a player ran before bouncing the ball.

I'm not sure if the technology is currently available, but it shouldn't be too far away.

 

[Leeda]

hmm smart footballs, smart footballers, smart coaches, smart goal posts, smart line drawers, ie those who define the fifty metres, smart umpires, smart fans, smart parents, smart siblings, smart friends, smart grass, ... now this is getting silly..

 

[ajdude]

what they should do is put a magnet in the ball and make the goal posts magnetic so the ball will get stuck to the post if it hits it. i'm a ******* genius

 

[stellation]

I honestly read the title and thought it meant that there was a company called "Smart" that were manufacturing footies and Sherrin's contract was up for review.

 

[bomberbaird]

Watch the NFL. If they do it, the AFL will follow.

Exactly

 

[J Freeloader]

People have been talking about this for at least a decade. It's likely viable now but considering the AFL I wouldn't expect to see any real innovation for another ten years.

 

[The Swert]

I can foresee the AFL in 5 years time. Jeremy Cameron has a kick after the siren to win the Grand Final. He kicks long, it's drifting to the right. Did it scrap the post? The Suns players are calling for a review.

Lets go to motion tracker. Oh dear! What has the video ref done? He's tracking the wrong ball! That ball is sitting in the bucket under the goals. What a farce! The AFL have done it again.

 

[domsheed]

Why cant we keep it the same football I've been in love with afl for 61 years and just keep it the same please I don't like everything changes

 

[In Judd we trust]

Why cant we keep it the same football I've been in love with afl for 61 years and just keep it the same please I don't like everything changes

I completely agree with that , But I also feel this change would be a good one . It could be used to clarify so many other rules and stop the need to keep changing interpretations and goal line technology.

 

[Engimal]

Potentially a great idea. I don't like changing something for the sake of changing it but could be used to detect if the ball hit the post or a player's hand which is pretty neat.

 

[Furn2]

What about a smart umpire first.

 

[Collingwood 4 eternity]

Just wait until someone hacks the software on the electronic chip in the footy , to change its direction in mid flight en route to the goals.

 

[Damon_3388]

I've been saying this for some time now. Have a GPS sensor IN the ball, and perhaps some new-fandangled techno coating on the ball, and external sensors on the goal posts and around the ground feeding real time information to the umpires.

You'd instantly know whether or not the ball hit the post, and distance of kicks would be instantly measured too. Just the umpire carrying the ball would be able to tell him an accurate 50m penalty. You'd know exactly how far a player ran before bouncing the ball.

I'm not sure if the technology is currently available, but it shouldn't be too far away.

Or we could just use the same technology that already works in soccer...