Accuracy NRL v AFL

[Rustybugles]

This was put to me recently that place kicks in NRL have a much higher accuracy % than set shots in AFL - keeping in mind that our "mark' originally meant from where the player could take a place kick. I can only say that there are fewer goal kicks in Rugby - anyone know how they compare in accuracy?

 

[Dees]

of course you'd expect greater accuracy in place kicks in nrl than afl
-only the best kick from each team is kicking
-sometimes the player who scores the try will run right around under the posts and apart from when its a penalty shot on goal (not very often) the player gets to choose the distance so they are quite often kicking very easy shots.

 

[bricon]

You’re really comparing apples and oranges here, as the rules of both games are totally different. For example; in aussie rules say a mark is taken deep in a forward pocket, close to the boundary line, but only about 15 metres from goal. The shot would have to be taken from an extremely acute angle, presenting the kicker with a very difficult shot at goal. If a free kick were awarded in a similar position in rugby league (say, a metre out from the try line, and 15 metres off-centre of the goals), the kicker has the option of taking the kick back up-field (to open up the angle), in a direct line (parallel to the side line) from the mark where the free kick was awarded – typically in an example like that the kick would be taken from about 20 metres out and the kicker would have a relatively easy shot at goal.

 

[jonesy86]

place kicks have very little variables other than wind

kicks at goal in AFL depend a lot on the drop of the ball etc...

 

[estibador]

Going off on a tangent slightly, if you really want to compare the footskills of AFL and rugby players you should really look at the kicking for touch in union (not applicable to the NRL I know). The amount of times players fail to even find touch or slice the kick out after 30m or so really makes you appreciate how skillful AFL players are with the ball in their hands.

 

[discoduck]

place kicks have very little variables other than wind

kicks at goal in AFL depend a lot on the drop of the ball etc...

yep . . . kicking stationery object vs kicking moving object. that's the major difference. and true about only the best kicker having a crack too.

 

[Ted Ed Fred]

yep . . . kicking stationery object vs kicking moving object. that's the major difference. and true about only the best kicker having a crack too.

Spot on. The fact that in rugby they get to kick a stationary ball sitting on a little holder is the main difference. The distances and angles of shots on goal in AFL are a lot tougher too. In NRL they get excited if someone kicks a goal from 40m out on a slight angle.

Look at the pathetic quality of the field kicks in NRL for a true comparison. I'm not slamming rugby, as obviously kicking isn't as big part of the game as it is in footy.

 

[LeagueRhino]

I think it has been scientifically proven in exercise and sport science journals that rugby league players are more skillful kicking wise than AFL footballers.

 

[Gman]

Also the RU/RL ball is designed from rubber therefore more even as opposed to the leather, stiched & laced football.

Plus the football gets a pounding when kicked and is difficult to handle in wet weather as opposed to the dimpled RU/RL ball.

Plus they hardly kick the ball it is mostly thrown in RU/RL

 

[estibador]

I think it has been scientifically proven in exercise and sport science journals that rugby league players are more skillful kicking wise than AFL footballers.

I find that hard to believe considering kicking is the main skill in Aussie rules and only a minor part of league. I'm sure kicking 50m to a leading target takes more skill than a 10m grubber kick to try break the defensive line.

 

[Funkalicous]

I'll tell you what, you never see a shank kick at goal in NRL. In AFL even the best goalkickers kick helicopters.

You'd have to factor in the drop of the footy I suppose. - Possibly the shape of the different balls as well. The NRL balls are rounder than in AFL. I wonder if that gives the kicker more of a surface area to hit.

 

[Teagueeee15]

I'll tell you what, you never see a shank kick at goal in NRL. In AFL even the best goalkickers kick helicopters.

You'd have to factor in the drop of the footy I suppose. - Possibly the shape of the different balls as well. The NRL balls are rounder than in AFL. I wonder if that gives the kicker more of a surface area to hit.

Unfortunatly for Storm supporters, Matt Geyer shanked a kick at goal in last years grand final.

 

[Ted Ed Fred]

Also the RU/RL ball is designed from rubber therefore more even as opposed to the leather, stiched & laced football.

Just indicative of the soulless, Americanised franchise that is the NRL I guess. The Sherrin is made from smooth leather and each ball has irregualritys and imperfections.

The rugby ball is plastic, perfectly symmetrical and has little dimples on it to greatly increase grip. How then do they still drop so many simple marks and fumble the ball so much in rugby?

 

[discoduck]

i think alot of afl players could make it in the nrl as half-backs or full-backs. they seem to struggle with bombs, kick throughs and 40-20's, whereas i think ex-afl players could hit their kicks really well and set up far more attacking plays.

i realise this is off the topic of shooting for goal, but anyway.

 

[Brilliant]

I think it has been scientifically proven in exercise and sport science journals that rugby league players are more skillful kicking wise than AFL footballers.

Are you a scientist, cause you just made that up.

The only scientific fact is that rugby players like the smell of arse.

 

[Herbs]

I'll tell you what, you never see a shank kick at goal in NRL. In AFL even the best goalkickers kick helicopters.

You'd have to factor in the drop of the footy I suppose. - Possibly the shape of the different balls as well. The NRL balls are rounder than in AFL. I wonder if that gives the kicker more of a surface area to hit.

Unioun balls are the roundest, then rugby league balls, then the Sherrin, which is the most oval/oblong/whatever shape, mate of mine who has played union and league says the union ball is easier to kick that a league ball, so you can extrapolate from that.

 

[cosmonaut]

Union Balls (Gilbert) are very round. They are very easy to kick. Steeden's are a bit less round.

I think League/Union balls are much easier to kick, but a Sherrin... when you get onto it well, it'll go much further. On the same token, if you miss kick a Sherrin, it can look pretty foolish.

AFL players would not kick Steeden's as far as they kick Sherrin's, but they'd kick Steeden's more consistantly.

As for grip. Once any ball gets wet, Steeden, Gilbert or Sherrin, they are a nightmare to handle.

 

[Gman]

As for grip. Once any ball gets wet, Steeden, Gilbert or Sherrin, they are a nightmare to handle.

Rubber sticks way better than a painted leather ball...the two dont compare

 

[cos789]

Unioun balls are the roundest, then rugby league balls, then the Sherrin, which is the most oval/oblong/whatever shape, mate of mine who has played union and league says the union ball is easier to kick that a league ball, so you can extrapolate from that.

RU balls are biggest and roundest .They are easy to kick because more surface area to aim for . They are a compromise to handling .
AFL balls are specifically designed for kicking over large distances .
Sligtly harder to kick but more accurate and kick further .
RL ball is compromised for handling . Easy to kick as long as you don't want accuracy or great depth .
NFL is this tiny sharp ball specifically designed for throwing .
Very hard to kick with confidance , but AFL players do it well because of
all the kicking practice .
Soccer ball is designed for soccering not for kicking over great distances .
GAA ball is slightly smaller and heavier than soccer ball and handles only marginally better .

.

 

[CONS_SS]

FWIW, AFL goalposts are 6.4 metres apart, while the NRL (and NFL) goalposts are 5.6 metres apart.

 

[peechers]

You just don't see enough good use of the drop-kick these days.

 

[CONS_SS]

You just don't see enough good use of the drop-kick these days.

haha the good old drop kick, I cant even remember the last time I seen someone try and pull one of those off (on purpose). But really what use do they have in the game apart from looking funny

 

[peechers]

haha the good old drop kick, I cant even remember the last time I seen someone try and pull one of those off (on purpose). But really what use do they have in the game apart from looking funny

I did one last year, a set shot at goal.

You can actually get more purchase on the ball and kick it further than a drop-punt.

 

[scarecrow2k1]

The other issue is that when you see a league player kick the ball, 9 times out of 10 it is done by one of the best if not the best kicker on the team, so it might look better alot of the time, whereas in AFL all players kick the ball so some look bad because the player in question is a worse kick, but would still probably thrash a Rugby League forward in kicking

 

[||-GOB-||]

haha the good old drop kick, I cant even remember the last time I seen someone try and pull one of those off (on purpose). But really what use do they have in the game apart from looking funny

People kick drop goals every week... The Panthers kicked a stunning 45m drop goal to win in Golden Point extra time just last week.