The AFL football
As you can see the shape of the AFL football has drawn a lot of inspiration from the the shape of the rugby ball with a few distinct differences, in that the ball used in AFL has much more pointier ends than rugby balls and is slightly thinner on the sides, making them more streamline. This unique shape is vital when it comes to hand balling, kicking and marking in the game. As the bio mechanics of the football will be explained further on.
Kicking the Football
There are three ways of kicking the Sherrin (Informal way of saying football) and they are all used in different situations in the game. They are:
1. The Drop Punt: The most common way of kicking the football when looking for a target or going for a set shot on goal.
2. Torpedo: Is used to provide extra distance when kicking the ball out of the defensive half as well as gaining a few metres when going for goal outside of 50 metres.
3. The Banana Kick: Is generally used when shooting for a goal from the boundary line or near the behind posts.
1. The Drop Punt: The most common way of kicking the football when looking for a target or going for a set shot on goal.
2. Torpedo: Is used to provide extra distance when kicking the ball out of the defensive half as well as gaining a few metres when going for goal outside of 50 metres.
3. The Banana Kick: Is generally used when shooting for a goal from the boundary line or near the behind posts.
The Drop Punt
The drop punt as stated is the most simplest way of kicking the ball to a teammate on your side or going for goal, if done right. When kicking the ball you must hold the ball along the center of gravity to provide a straighter kick. Once you have held the ball right, slowing use your prefered arm to guide the point of the ball to your foot. Once kicked the ball should start to spin backwards and go straight depending on the wind conditions on the day. This kick is effective as it is generally accurate compared to a ball that just floats with no spin to it because it provides a lot of angular velocity and only a little bit drag is creating by the air resistance. By providing a longer lever arm, by extending your leg further when going for kick, you will increase torque and this will provide more angular velocity and will hence provide a greater distance when kicking.
The Torperdo (Torp)
The torpedo is used to provide a far more greater distance when kicking when the drop punt isn't effective. When kicking a 'torp' hold it on an angle across your body and slightly off the center of gravity. Then guide the ball down with your prefered arm on this angle towards your boot. This way the ball should 'cut' through the air like a torpedo. This method is greater for that extra distance because it provides less turbulence due to its streamline body and that means less drag is created. As like the drop punt when you provide a greater lever arm you will increase the angular velocity of the ball but also still retain the streamline effect the torpedo gives.
The Banana Kick
The Banana kick is the most unorthodox way of kicking the Sherrin. Rather than just kicking the ball straight the banana kick is used to kick the ball sideways to provide greater accuracy when scoring from the boundary line or from behind the post. The ball is held like a reverse torpedo punt with the right hand forward for a right hander and the left hand forward for the left hander, so the ball is placed off its centre of gravity. The ball is then guided down by your preferred arm in an angle like shown in the figure with Daniel Motlop. This way you will produce side spin that will send the ball down a curved pathway. This is the only kick where your kicking foot does not go directly towards its target.
Hand Balling
It was only at around the 1960's and 70's that the use of the handball became important in the game. Now it's used as a major weapon to move the ball more quickly out of defense more effectively without giving the ball into the opponents hands. When hand balling you must have the clenched fist by keeping your thumps locked away in your hand to prevent any injury from happening. Like a drop punt, you guide your hand towards the point of the ball making the football spin backwards. This way the ball will move in a linear pathway with very few deviation from any air resistance.