Oct 20,2024
Armagh captain Aidan Forker believes that there’s room for change in the Football Review Committee's new rules, having played two trials games under the proposed regulations.
Forker was part of the triumphant Ulster team who won the inter-provincial cup final on penalties, beating Connacht after the sides finished the game level.
A dramatic finish to the game saw Down's Odhran Murdock score a four-point goal late in normal time which, at that stage, left Ulster two points ahead.
But Galway's Johnny Heaney then struck his second two-pointer within a matter of minutes to tie up the game at 2-23 (31) to 4-15 (31), ensuring penalties would be required to separate the teams.
Reflecting on his experience playing under the new rules, Forker had some gripes with the changes, not least the fact that goalkeepers' kickouts have to travel outside of the new 40 metre arc.
"It adds more contest out the middle, but I'm not 100% sure if it adds to the skill of the game and that's sort of what we're after, is it not?"
The addition of an extra point for a goal, making a green flag worth four points instead of three, was also a bone of contention for Forker.
"I feel like the scores may be a bit heavily weighted to the goals," he said. "I think if you concede a point, it doesn't feel that heavy on you. If you concede a goal, the four points feels quite heavy.
"For me a 3, 2, 1 [three for a goal, two outside the arc, one for a point], would be nice.
"Four points for a goal, it can knock you. I think teams will set up to not concede goals, because if you concede two or three goals in a game, you're going to struggle to win the game.
"Managers will be quite wary of conceding goals, I think you'll be coached very much to try and negate goal chances.
"If you look at the stats, that 40-metre arc is probably a 50% zone at best. So you may concede four or five of them, I don't think that's as worrying as conceding a goal."
Should the four-point goals stay, Forker is hoping for more clarity on the scoreboard.
He admits that the changes left players scratching their heads at times, trying to work out just what the score was and called for the points totals to be included on the stadium scoreboards.
He explained: "On that last play, we probably played it wrong in terms of dropping men back and inviting that two pointer. We weren't 100% sure on the total, because it is so fast and the scores are going over quite quickly.
"It probably needs to have totals on the scoreboard just for players because it is so dynamic and so quick.
"Rian [O’Neill] was actually shouting at me saying, 'Aidan, what's the score?’ He was looking for a bit of feedback and not towards the end of the game."
While discussion over the proposed rule changes looks likely to rumble on, there is a general consensus that the trial series has been a mostly successful exercise.
Galway manager Padraic Joyce feels that "four or five" of the seven proposed rules are worth introducing after taking charge of Connacht during the interpro series.
"It definitely makes the game faster. The games were very enjoyable," he said
"I think the three up top is a good one. The tap and go from the free-kicks speeds the game up as well.
"The kick-out one might need to be looked at I think. People can just create a [defensive] arc outside the 40 metres.
Leinster manager Dessie Dolan said his team had "overall, been very positive about the rule changes. There is a frustration with the game as it is. It's very static. It was a lot more open out there.
"A couple of things. The ball being penalised 50 metres [for dissent/not moving or handing the ball back after a free] is quite severe. The inside mark is hard to execute.
"But I think the three up top has given structure to the game. It is a little bit easier to break it down."
Dolan added that the GAA should "definitely review" the decision to scrap pre-season competitions if the new rules come in.
"A lot of the rule changes make sense but there's a lot for the players to take in."
"I think the two points from the 45 is questionable," he said.
"You could be in a position where a defender puts in a great block.
"We had a situation tonight where there was a one-point shot and Niall Morgan flicked it out for a 45. Then Conor Gleeson got a chance for a two-pointer.
"I can't understand that logic. I think a 45 should be one point."
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) October 19, 2024
