Oct 18,2024
Over the next 48 hours, the GAA public will be exposed to what possibly could very well be the new face of Gaelic football.
It's worth remembering that this is still a trial phase and a special Congress would have to sign off on each change at the end of November, but essentially Friday and Saturday's games could be some of the most important played in a very long time.
With that in mind, we have canvassed county players from across the entire pitch - from goalkeeper to full-forward - to see what rules they are most excited to see, while it's fair to say that nearly all expressed some trepidation with what is to come.
Running the rule: Proposed changes to Gaelic football
GOALKEEPER
John O'Hare (Down)
Rule most looking forward to seeing trialled?
The 40-metre arc for both kick-outs and shooting.
Why?
I think what excites me the most is the reward for being able to comfortably kick 40-plus metres, both from a kickout and in the scoring range.
For kickouts, the new rule allowing us to take it quickly without everyone having to clear the 20-metre arc means we can get kickouts away faster and build an attack. If we can do this quickly and accurately, and kick it beyond the required 40 metres, it provides a platform for the team to move straight into the attacking half and create a scoring opportunity.
Additionally, being able to use that skill from a scoring perspective, earning two points for kicking from distance is a considerable reward for a team that has this skill set.
FULL-BACK
Cillian Brennan (Clare)
Rule most looking forward to seeing trialled?
Fouling and solo and go.
Why?
One thing I'd be looking forward to as a defender are the amendments to tactical fouling, whether that be deliberately holding up a player or stopping a free being taken quickly.
I suppose there’s nothing more frustrating than when you’ve won a ball as a defender and the opposition tries to immediately foul you, slowing up the game and allowing them to retreat in numbers with very little punishment or negative outcomes for them.
It’s probably an element of the game you’ll find teams nearly coaching and encouraging. The 50m penalty and black card amendment seem like more appropriate punishments now, so hopefully that will keep the game moving quicker along with the solo and go.
On the flipside of that, there’ll be more space for one v ones with quicker ball coming in, but that’s the joy of defending too, I can’t argue with that.
I have a lot of uncertainty around the 3 v 3 and the goalkeeper rules because I probably enjoy what defenders and goalkeepers can bring to games from an attacking perspective, but I will hold judgement on those until I see more.
HALF-BACK
Connaire Mackin (Armagh)
Rule you're most excited to see trialled?
None.
Why?
What an absolute load of nonsense, there's no need to completely change the game.
Good luck watching Dublin play someone from Division 4 in Leinster and putting 60 points on them with the new scoring.
I was asking boys who were playing in the trial games last week. Niall Morgan, who has possibly the longest kick-out in Ireland, boomed out a kick-out and it landed on his own 14-metre line in Garvaghey against the wind. Opposition teams are just going to set up around that arc anyway for kick-outs and that's taking away the art of kicking for keepers too.
There is so much more running involved in it too, the lads were saying it was manic, so they want us to get fitter, faster and stronger yet train less. And they talk about injuries?
They're trying to turn it into an individual sport, full-backs having to stay back defending all the time and the likes. There’s no poor footballers anymore. Why should a defender have to stay back all the time?
It’s a team sport, I enjoy the tactical side of it, but they’re looking to box off individuals.
It’s so much more pressure on referees too. You’ve asking a referee in a club game who can’t see you getting the head beat off you to keep an eye on the likes of the 3 v 3?
If they’re looking more scores, I don’t see why they don’t bring in a shot clock.
MIDFIELD
Jordan Morrissey (Carlow)
Rule most looking forward to seeing trialled?
The solo and go.
Why?
Obviously I haven't played under the rules yet but the idea of being able to decide if there’s an opportunity to just continue to play, provided you weren’t held up, I feel like that could definitely speed up the game and could create a lot more scoring opportunities.
When you tie it in together with the 3 v 3, you know you’re going to have players ahead of the ball and you’re less likely to have a packed defence based on that rule alone.
To open defences a little bit more, I think the solo and go could be very promising, especially on a counter-attack. If there’s a tactical foul to hold up play and you have the opportunity to continue going in your stride, I feel that could really open up things.
I’m not as sure how the four-point and two-point rule will go, but I’m looking forward to seeing it at the weekend.
HALF-FORWARD
Kevin Quinn (Wicklow)
Rule most looking forward to seeing trialled?
Two-point scoring arc.
Why?
I think it will encourage us as forwards to take shots on from distance and take more risks. I think the rule will force defences to push out more on us, which may leave more space in behind for goals.
FULL-FORWARD
Aidan O’Shea (Mayo)
Rule most looking forward to seeing trialled?
3 v 3 structure.
Why?
We had a trial match there on Tuesday, and there were some issues for me although I really enjoyed quite a lot of it too. I'm open to change in general and anything that improves the game is OK with me.
I’m not sure about the scoring changes. I think the 3 v 3 might create more scoring opportunities in general and solve the 'more scores' thing.
I originally thought anything outside the arc was two points from play only, but it’s frees and 45s too. Top-range free-takers are 85% plus now, so it’ll be like in soccer when you’re looking to win a corner, you’d near be looking to win a 45 because it’s worth two points.
You could be coming in across the end-line saying: 'I hope this doesn’t get fisted over the bar.’ You’d prefer it to hit a man’s knee, go out for a 45, and Seánie O’Shea comes up and taps it over.
Does it change the one-on-one defending because a defender could be thinking ‘I’m actually OK if he scores a point’ because the penalty for flicking the ball away for a 45 as his opponent solos will be even worse.
I think outside the arc should be from play only.
The 3 up is something I am looking forward to seeing though, I’m excited to see how it plays out.
I think there’s more opportunity for the one-on-one in the counter-attack off it and obviously in the half pitch, traffic wise, you’re going to have 11 v 11 so there should be more opportunity, more space to play around with it going forward.
