Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has questioned the future of the iconic Sherrin football, saying it has become too hard and slippery for players to handle.
Speaking on Triple M's Hot Breakfast,ย McGuire said the iconic football is "stuffing up the game as a spectacleโ and shared the idea of "adding a more grip-friendly outer layer".
โI donโt know whether theyโve put another coat of varnish on the footballs, but no-one can seem to grab it,โ McGuire said.
โI reckon itโs almost time for us to put a rough-cast or even โฆ you know the rugby league balls how theyโve got the rubber knobs on them if you like."
โI watched it again (Sunday), anyone who tried to kick the ball around their body just absolutely skied it."
โTheyโve got the plastic boots and Iโve gone about the plastic covering of the balls, but you have a look now, blokes canโt โฆ if there is any sort of dew or bit of wetness or even (Sunday) (under the roof at Marvel Stadium) the ball just goes straight through their hands."
โItโs as hard as anything at the ends of the ball and theyโre as slippery as all get out at the moment.
โI reckon itโs stuffing up the game as a spectacle because no-one can control the ball, itโs just going straight through their hands.โ
Sherrin has produced footballs since 1880 and has been the exclusive match ball for the AFL since it's inception as the VFL in 1897.
