Compromise rules tests

[geysir]

I only started watching the game after the first 1/4 so I missed all the fireworks. In defeat or victory over the past 20 years I have never heard Boylan to be anything other than 100% gracious. I take his word on his statements.
I don't mind a few fair scraps and legal hard tackles in abundance but refs afflicted with rule amnesia are a curse.
You'd have to apply a rugby discipline on that game, real sin bins and a no nonsence rugby ref.
From the you tube segments
the tackle on GG didn't look so malicious in comparison to the one on Coulter but it was very illegal, can't swing a player around like that to the ground, it's serious dangerous play, red card.
Pete, it's gas that you can't seem to help yourself from watching a few minutes here and there and pontificate (on the GAA skill levels of the past 5 years) on a game you detest. Which skills do you think are deteriorating?

[Macy]

I hear Brennan is still going on about it, blaming the Aussie's totally there on Off The Ball. At this stage, clearly a tatic to cover up for the thuggery in the GAA over the weekend, with match officials being lamped by players and mentors. Following on from last weekends stuff in Arklow.

[Reality Bites]

The roughhouse tactics by the Aussies glossed over the simple fact that the Australian lads are better Gaelic footballers than our own lads and to add insult to injury in our own back yard..I think their score taking their movement, fielding, strength and fitness were in a different league to our lads.. Amateurs V Professionals

[endabob1]

I haven't seen the game this weekend but I've been to a couple in the past and watched a couple and the one thing that struck me is the nonsense of the rules, Red cards are never shown, the 2 umpires are a joke, the Irish one makes decisions in Favour of Irish players and likewise for the Australian.
In any other sport, Soccer, Rugby, Gaa etc. if you deliberatley took someone out illegally when they were through on goal/heading for the try line you would be red carded instantly no questions no arguments but it happened twice in one game I was at and there wasn't even a yellow shown. For the game to have any future they need to sort out the rules or abandon the whole experiment, as it is the AFL get more out of it as a recruitment tool than the Gaa do as a marketing/income generator.

[bohs til i die]

At least these boys dknow how to fight with a touch of class .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-Y-b1mfEDc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIBTGv1_XcQ

[manofthemoment]

i was at both games. the Aussies should have won the first test just as easily as the second but they probably got bored with the opposition they were getting. The media i think are inclined to make more of the violence than was really there. Having said that the officials should have been able to deal more effectively with the incidents that did happen. After all it was mostly done out in the open (no sly digs or kicks when no-one was looking). We get just as much 'incident' in some regular GAA games i.e. Galway county hurling final. I have always admired Sean Boylan as a manager but i think it was a bit rich him of all people complaining of the roughouse tactics. The real problem here was that Ireland were unable to compete and but for the fact that it was a nice way to introduce the kids to Croke Park it would have bee a wasted day for most. The violence is relatively easy to contain, getting Ireland players up to the same level as amateurs may be a bigger problem and this is what will ultimately kill the series

[pete]

Which skills do you think are deteriorating?

I've spoken to GAA people on this. Former inter-county hurler (maybe he biased against football but I doubt it) agreed that shooting was basically crap in current inter country players. Aussies beat Ireland 3-0 on goals. Inter County players should be scoring 90% of efforts from 35 yards. I'd guess average 50% on good day? I suggest maybe the ball needs to be lighter?

[geysir]

That's one skill, shooting with accuracy within range. I don't know if it's any worse now, I think it was always a hit or miss affair :)

Most of McDonnell's efforts were accurate but fell short into the goalkeepers hands. This was also well short of his own standards.
IMO the Aussies were not anything special, Ireland were just dreadful in contrast.