Burley V Sherrin

[bunsen burner]

Anyone remember those Kookaburra balls?

Think they were used in WA (?) in the 70's & 80's.
Were used in the old Escort Cup i think.

They almost had a point on them like a gridiron ball!

My primary school had them. Then I kicked them onto the roof of the factory next door one lunch time. Then went down to school after hours and used a section of sprinkler piping to climb onto the factory roof. They weren't bad.

I'd feel dirty if I kicked a Burley these days. Sort of like cheating.

 

[JF_Bay_22_SCG]

Interesting thread.

Livingh in Sydney when I was growing up it was very difficult finding decent AFL footies to kick. Living in a rugby union obsessed family, I often had to make do with drop punting my brother's Wallaby rugby union bal in the park across the road.

Of course 99% of Sydneysiders are completely inept at kicking a drop punt (including a great percentage of Swans supporters as well ). My Dad said it was easier kicking and 'catching' my brther's ball. And as much as I wanted to disagree with it, it was. It was just just easier to hoof the big brown Wallaby ball with black ends. It was so much bigger, and had a bigger sweet spot than your normal AFL footy.

I have 3 footies these days-a red normal one that is pretty old these days, a synthetic yellow Sherrins, and a $14 job I got at the markets in Melbourne. Being from the northern states where both codes use synthetic footies, I kind of am more confortable kicking the synthetic one.Also I know I can use it kicking on concrete/tiles or in car parks etc. But when shooting for goal it does tend to float massively. Just never seems to hold its line. Is 1000% easier to mark because of the dimples on it. Torpies are 1000% easier with it as well I reckon. Plus checksides, as the ball tends to bend so easily.

Do you think there will ever be a day when the AFL will have synthetic balls at AFL Level? How about for wet days? Because I know that on boggy grounds footies tend to be like a piece of lead after a quarter in wet weather. Would players and fans be against it?

Thoughts peoples?

JF

 

[Nt Bomber]

When Im trying to get a kick its the least of my worries what type of ball it
is Im just happy to get my hands on it.

 

[Diego]

Interesting thread.

Of course 99% of Sydneysiders are completely inept at kicking a drop punt (including a great percentage of Swans supporters as well ).

heh tell me about it..i could hand pick the amount of people that could kick a decent drop punt in Sydney. Used to annoy me but heck they grew up learning to kick a rugby or a league ball.

Sherrin..never tried Burley but they do look more rounder than the t w when i go into Rebel.

 

[wellsy]

Just got to have a look at my work of the new two toned (Red and Yellow) Burley Sekem match balls to be used in WAFL competitions next year.

Are we using red and yellow balls this year or next season. Red and yellow! Didnt we use red and yellow balls some time ago i cant remember?

 

[PA HOG]

.

Do you think there will ever be a day when the AFL will have synthetic balls at AFL Level? How about for wet days? Because I know that on boggy grounds footies tend to be like a piece of lead after a quarter in wet weather. Would players and fans be against it?

Thoughts peoples?

JF

There exists a strong belief that Australian footballs must be MADE FROM LEATHER and cricket bats must be MADE FROM WILLOW. The natural resistance to change eliminates the immediate prospect of alternative materials being used despite any perceived advantages.

My feeling is that the AFL will use synthetic balls about the same time as Test players use aluminium bats.

 

[Syd Kennets]

Better not use synthetic balls!

Its just not Footy.

 

[Rocket23]

Like comparing a ferrari to a datsun 120Y. Sherrin by a mile!

 

[Hawkers]

I think most leagues around the world use Burleys

 

[Hoops]

Who's kicked those plastic supermaket footys, jeez they hurt bare feet and even to handball with the pointed plastic end. it couldn't bounce and it wouldn't spin and once the wind took hold of it look out (no fun). No wonder mothers don't want their kids playing football if they start off with those balls.

I had a Kookaburra which I could roost 10m+ than any other ball (and if you have seen me kick that is a lot further). They seem to have a sweet spot and was also easier to mark. I miss my Kookaburra


anyways
I vote Sherrin

 

[tigerdan]

Sherrins are fantastic.

Here in WA you see a lot of Burleys (I think they are made here). I hate them. Round and floaty and a lame logo on the side.

All the faulkners I have played with have been far too pointy.

IIRC the home team used to provide two balls for the game, and the captain of the opposing theam would get to choose which one they would play with. I think it was originally thought to be 'tougher' to use the bigger ball (Burley?)but the forwards said the smaller ones (Sherrin?) were better to kick for goal and became the more widely used ball.

I think the crows had a deal with Faulkner when they first came in and they only supplied Faulkners for their games.

 

[wells is god]

Sherrin by a sh*tload. Thats what is used in the league i play in and i have used a Burley a couple of times before and they just dont compare at all.

 

[masai]

Chesson.

Darn good ball to do dropkicks with.

 

[Rocket23]

Who's kicked those plastic supermaket footys, jeez they hurt bare feet and even to handball with the pointed plastic end. it couldn't bounce and it wouldn't spin and once the wind took hold of it look out (no fun). No wonder mothers don't want their kids playing football if they start off with those balls.

HAHAHA Thanks for that trip down memory lane Hoops. I remember having several of those plastic balls. Can you also remember the rainbow coloured rubber footys? Ah those were the days.

These days for a kick in the paddock you cant go past the mini footys in the club colours. I have one of these and a Sherrin in the car all the time and I think the Mini Sherrin tends to get the most use.

 

[PowerKop]

The SANFL use both balls. Just depends what the home club supplies you with.

 

[jimmy35]

Sherrin for me. Mainly Sherrins here but suprisingly a few local leagues went for the Faulkner for a while but I found them pointy and heavy. Sherrin by a mile.

 

[Contra Mundum]

I am also a West Aussie who learned to kick with Burleys - once you've played with a Sherrin there is simply no going back - the Burley match ball seems more oval somehow than a Sherrin

 

[UNIT]

For the record i used the term 'KB' Sherrin in relation to the 'Kangaroo Brand' Model...i know its TW Sherrin.

Also the two toned 'Globetrotters' style yellow and red Burleys will be used in all WAFL competition this season...(not from next which is what i said )

 

[Wojee]

I remember at training one night before a drill my coach grabbed a ball, looked at it, threw it away and said "F***ing Burley" as he grabbed a Sherrin out of the bag.

 

[UNIT]

A big reason a lot of clubs, country, amateur leagues etc go the Burley option, quite simply, is how much cheaper they are than the Sherrin....how much are KBs now easily over a $120 bucks by now im guessing....When your buying them in bulk, Burley will always win.

 

[jimmy35]

True. We buy Sherrins w/s for $85 Burley we can't get but Faulkners are $70 odd. Not sure or the retails but it equates out about the same I am guessing.
Even for 20-30 bucks I am still thinking its a better buy. I guess 20 odd balls a year and you have fair saving though.

 

[UNIT]

The cost to me is just a bit odd. I mean there both of comprable quality in terms of construction and durability yet KBs are sometimes $30 or $40 bucks above their Burley equivalant (Burley Premier)....Just crazy, i know the Sherrin has the perception of being the 'better' footy, but to me the quality is neglible beetween them, both will last comparble times if taken care of IMO. I know plenty of fellas and kids that want a club im involved with to try and get at a least few KBs in, but its just to cost prohibitive.

 

[Urtle]

This is hilarious, Ive used Burley's for about 8 or 9 years now and some of you to$$ers spend far too much time with one hand on it while the other is on the keyboard!! How can anyone take this seriously when some state that BURLEY's are round and fat while others here say they are too hard and pointy?? It has been proven time and time again that it's HARD to tell the difference between the Aussie owned BURLEY and the Russell Athletic "yankie" owned SHERRIN, although try comparing 2 SHERRINS from time to time , you'd reckon they were different brands if you didn't know otherwise!!

Paul Hudson and the AFL in conjuction with a certain football manufacturer put 6 "unbranded" footballs to the test each football was a different grade of football from the differing manufacturers (Top Grade Sherrin/Burley, 2nd Grade Sherrin/Burley etc), and guess which one came out on top....the BURLEY PREMIER, they last longer, they travel and revolute through the air better etc etc. They even cost less which is a slur on SHERRIN itself...all you are doing when purchasing a SHERRIN is spending $$$$ on an American owned ball with an Aussie Rules household name on it, which is insulting to us customers.

If anyone here that blindly doesnt rate a BURLEY, can state they have a better feel for a football and the goals and better decorated AFL career than a bloke like Paul Hudson, well they better get out the tissues and wipe the keyboard. The bloke has held as many "foot"balls in his hand as some of you have held the "two" of your own.

 

[Ljp86]

This is hilarious, Ive used Burley's for about 8 or 9 years now and some of you to$$ers spend far too much time with one hand on it while the other is on the keyboard!! How can anyone take this seriously when some state that BURLEY's are round and fat while others here say they are too hard and pointy?? It has been proven time and time again that it's HARD to tell the difference between the Aussie owned BURLEY and the Russell Athletic "yankie" owned SHERRIN, although try comparing 2 SHERRINS from time to time , you'd reckon they were different brands if you didn't know otherwise!!

Paul Hudson and the AFL in conjuction with a certain football manufacturer put 6 "unbranded" footballs to the test each football was a different grade of football from the differing manufacturers (Top Grade Sherrin/Burley, 2nd Grade Sherrin/Burley etc), and guess which one came out on top....the BURLEY PREMIER, they last longer, they travel and revolute through the air better etc etc. They even cost less which is a slur on SHERRIN itself...all you are doing when purchasing a SHERRIN is spending $$$$ on an American owned ball with an Aussie Rules household name on it, which is insulting to us customers.

If anyone here that blindly doesnt rate a BURLEY, can state they have a better feel for a football and the goals and better decorated AFL career than a bloke like Paul Hudson, well they better get out the tissues and wipe the keyboard. The bloke has held as many "foot"balls in his hand as some of you have held the "two" of your own.

You're right, a footy is a footy, doesn't matter what brand it is. Its like saying, Billabong or Rusty, its the same bloody shirt.

 

[petedavo]

This is hilarious, Ive used Burley's for about 8 or 9 years now and some of you to$$ers spend far too much time with one hand on it while the other is on the keyboard!! How can anyone take this seriously when some state that BURLEY's are round and fat while others here say they are too hard and pointy?? It has been proven time and time again that it's HARD to tell the difference between the Aussie owned BURLEY and the Russell Athletic "yankie" owned SHERRIN, although try comparing 2 SHERRINS from time to time , you'd reckon they were different brands if you didn't know otherwise!!

Paul Hudson and the AFL in conjuction with a certain football manufacturer put 6 "unbranded" footballs to the test each football was a different grade of football from the differing manufacturers (Top Grade Sherrin/Burley, 2nd Grade Sherrin/Burley etc), and guess which one came out on top....the BURLEY PREMIER, they last longer, they travel and revolute through the air better etc etc. They even cost less which is a slur on SHERRIN itself...all you are doing when purchasing a SHERRIN is spending $$$$ on an American owned ball with an Aussie Rules household name on it, which is insulting to us customers.

If anyone here that blindly doesnt rate a BURLEY, can state they have a better feel for a football and the goals and better decorated AFL career than a bloke like Paul Hudson, well they better get out the tissues and wipe the keyboard. The bloke has held as many "foot"balls in his hand as some of you have held the "two" of your own.

Burley Footballs were a purely Western Australian brand made in Bassendean until taken over by Sekem in the 1960's. Sekem went and started having the balls made in India and even made plastic balls. They are just not the same anymore.

Burleys were for all of the first century the official brand of the WAFL

Old Joe Burley used to be a big supporter and promoter of football and he took East Perth on a tour of Tasmania in the 1930's for winning the premiership.

He originally grew up in Hamilton Victoria where he learn't about football which he later promoted in WA. He came from a very large family and a couple of his much younger brothers formed a company making ladies underwear called Berlei (years after Joe had already come to Perth and set up Burley Footballs).

Trivial, I know, but it's interesting to find out how a bloke like Joe Burley, my great grandfather, was in some way responsible for developing and spreading Aussie Rules around Australia.

http://www.sekem.com.au/burley_footballs.html