GAA urge changes to rules to save series

The future of the International Rules series depends on leading figures from the GAA and AFL devising an effective disciplinary system at a meeting to be held in Melbourne later this month.

The GAA director general, Liam Mulvihill, commercial manager Dermot Power along with outgoing and incoming presidents Seán Kelly and Nicky Brennan fly to Melbourne on January 25th after the All-Star tour to Singapore reaches its conclusion.

No official date has been announced as AFL officials are in Los Angeles for an Australian Rules exhibition match, similar to the All-Stars trip, but Kelly and Power confirmed yesterday certain rule changes must be adopted for the series to survive.

Outbreaks of violence in last October's eighth instalment of the cross-code game since it's revival in 1998, especially the incident involving Australian co-captain Chris Johnson, overshadowed a hugely impressive Test whitewash by the Australians.

The aftershocks from the second Test saw several counties tabling motions for the series to be abolished at January's Central Council meeting. However, these were rejected until talks were held between the governing bodies.

For the game to survive, issues like the current red card punishment (that allows a player to be replaced when sent off) and partisan refereeing must be altered. Kelly even suggested International Rules suspensions could be carried over to GAA and AFL competitions. "You cannot have a situation where players know they can do things in International Rules that they cannot do in their own sport, be it the GAA or AFL. This includes the use of the fist and short-arm tactics.

"A new disciplinary system needs to be introduced so if you are suspended in International Rules it carries on to AFL and GAA games. That means we would need a GAA management representative involved at any disciplinary hearings."

Having been involved in every series since 1999, Offaly midfielder Ciaran McManus is qualified to give an opinion on what direction Rules should take. "The only thing I think they need to change is when a player is red carded his team should be a man down and that's it. That ruling should have come in years ago as substitutions gives licence to take a man out. Hopefully that will be addressed.

"If a player steps out of line he should be punished not the other way around - through injury for one of our players. The linesmen should also have more input to ensure players are not taken out off the ball but there is no need for suspensions to effect club or county level," added McManus.

Kelly supports the suggestion that the Irish and Australian referees are embedded with opposing camps in the run up to each Test match. "That's a good idea as partisan refereeing is something that must be addressed so there is no perception referees are giving the breaks to their own country."

Despite a verbal agreement to continue with the series until 2014, and one year remaining on Coca-Cola's sponsorship, if disciplinary procedures remain unaltered next April's annual Congress can expect a motion to abolish the hybrid game.

"Having gone through eight years, now is a good time to stop and take stock to see where we are going with the International Rules series over the next 10 years," said Power.

The talks, expected to be with AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and operations manager Adrian Anderson, will also address the issue of recruitment by Australian clubs in Ireland. Kelly believes making Irish players join the draft like young Australians seeking an AFL contract would stifle the drain of Gaelic footballers to the professional ranks.

Last year the Brisbane Lions trial in Limerick resulted in Laois duo Colm Begley and Brendan Quigley taking up rookie contracts, following the route already taken by Tadhg Kennelly and Setanta Ó hÁilpín in recent times. "The issue of recruitment must also be discussed. I think they would also be anxious themselves to sort this out. If they were willing to put any Irish player who wants to play in the AFL on the draft list then recruitment cannot occur. That would end the trials."