interesting observation from a 12 yo

my 12 year old son (almost 13) made the observation & comment that with all the night games we have & the fact that most of our finals (4 of the 6) start at a later time including the grand final where yellow footballs are used, he said why not just use yellow footballs all year including day games so all players are used of them...i thought his idea has merit

your thoughts please ?

Isn't it because we're more alert/sensitive to the colour red against the backdrop of blue?

Doesn't the WAFL use yellow balls for all their matches?

Also, I think the only time a yellow ball was used for the Grand Final was in 2007. With the change of daylight savings in 2008, daylight savings now starts before the Grand Final which means they've gone back to a red ball for Grand Finals.

What I thought was most interesting was the use of a yellow ball for Wednesday's game, rather odd as the game was going to finish in daylight for the simple fact that Unleash Solar Oval doesn't have playing lights.

Bayman,

Do you recall back in 1968 when Glenelg tried to introduce the yellow ball to SANFL footy against North at the Glenelg Oval? North chairman of selectors Jack Sutter went onto the oval and booted the ball into the ground as he was tackled by a Glenelg official. As a kid, I thought it was hilarious, but the SANFL were not amused

AH,
i've heard the story but was only 4 at the time

It was incredible. Neil Kerley decided the yellow ball in WA may be an advantage, Glenelg trained with it and decided to use it in a game. A goal was scored, the ball lost, so a yellow one was thrown out onto the ground.

Before the umps could get to it, North official Jack Sutter ran and grabbed it. As he shaped to kick it into the crowd a Glenelg official tackled him. I was watching the replay and couldn't stop laughing, it looked so pathetic watching two middle aged men grappling for a ball while the players stood around wondering what in hell was going on.

On the other side of the coin, why are we using yellow balls for night games if the lights are supposed to make it equivalent to daylight or not far off? We are certainly getting a lot of light on the ground. The yellow ball is more slippery being dyed and/or synthetically coated and adds to a lowering of the skill level, and from observations, I believe that it doesn't travel through the air as well - it floats. Check next time and see the number of kicks that don't quite go where they should compared to a naturally leather ball.

When night games are played it is much easier to see a yellow ball against a darkened sky compared to the red balls used during a day game no matter how much light is thrown on to the oval.