It has been announced today that the AFL will trial a new “Left Foot Football” in the NAB Cup in 2014.
It has been estimated that around 20% of all AFL players are natural “lefties” with this figure rising to 32% in the 2007 ANZAC Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood.
Left footers from the past include Polly Farmer, Bob Skilton, Royce Hart and Ian Stewart while current lefties include Scott Pendlebury, Dyson Heppell, Zac Dawson and Lance Franklin.
While scientific studies, such as the one carried out by John Orchard at the respected Melbourne University in 1999, have shown that there is little difference between muscle behaviour during right and left foot kicking a group of left foot kickers had asked the AFL Players Association to approach Sherrin to develop a Left Foot Football.
Unconfirmed information to hand indicates that the major difference to the normal ball may have to do with reverse stitching but at this stage Sherrin are not willing to release details about the ball. "The only thing we can say about the ball is that it will assist the lefties to overcome the tendency of the ball to travel left to right when they take a kick", said April Phouldja, the spokesperson for Sherrin.
Last Modified on 01/04/2013 09:35
