Rules set for three-year cycle with one rest year

INTERNATIONAL RULES is likely to be organised in future on a three-year cycle of two series and one rest year. This was announced at a joint media conference at the AFL headquarters in Melbourne's Telstradome yesterday.

According to GAA president Nickey Brennan: "Subject to the approval of Central Council, we have agreed that the year 2010 will be blank after which we will travel here for the 2011 series and in 2012 it will be held in Ireland.

"We feel it's useful to have a break but also that the two-year cycle (with a one-year break) makes it easier for administrators and officials to work and allows management teams to continue to have two-year appointments."

He also emphasised the continuation of the internationals, which are due to be played next year in Ireland remained dependent on a well-behaved second Test tomorrow at the MCG. "I've said all along we need to get through this series but I'm confident that the second Test will be played in the right manner and I'd like to talk optimistically on that basis."

Andrew Demetriou, chief executive of the AFL, stressed that the resumption of the series was just one aspect of maintaining a strong relationship with the GAA but also expressed optimism that next year's Tests would go ahead.

"We're absolutely delighted with the way in which players and officials have conducted themselves. We have discussed the series in 2009 and are pretty confident that we'll be able to help the GAA celebrate their 125th anniversary just as they are helping us celebrate our 150th."

The media was also briefed on discussions between the organisations on the matter of organised recruitment by agents working on behalf of AFL clubs. The AFL have undertaken to look into the possibility of restricting recruitment from Ireland to players of 19 and over as well as imposing a quota on clubs signing Irish players, who are already explicitly ruled out of contention for AFL scholarships.

"This is a matter that's been causing a fair bit of concern in Ireland. We have no right to stop a young fella coming over but in Australia you mightn't be as aware of the impact.

"You would probably know them as county players but we would know them as club players as well and some clubs might have built their future around a player like that. It can be a big loss to the county as well but it's often a massive loss to a club."

Demetriou was at pains to point out that players' agent Ricky Nixon, who caused quite an amount of controversy during the summer when he announced he was setting up recruitment camps for young Irish players in Ireland, did not speak for the AFL.

He added that his organisation was taking the matter seriously and had an established track record in relation to welfare and training programmes for players.

"We view this very seriously. Our scholarship scheme forbids signing up 15- and 16-year-olds from Ireland. We have done that on the basis of concerns expressed on previous occasions by the GAA.

"We are equally happy to discuss these other measures with our stakeholders. Policy is decided by the AFL Commission and implemented by its executive. Agents don't speak for the AFL."

Asked why the clubs would support these restrictions given young Irish players are amateurs and have no contract with the GAA, Demetriou said that the clubs have been supportive on a range of welfare issues.

"You shouldn't pre-judge what clubs' reaction will be," he said. "Clubs want the best for young players in terms of induction, opportunity and welfare and supported raising the minimum age of recruitment."

GAA director general Páraic Duffy intervened to make the point that the talks with the AFL had been wider ranging than International Rules and recruitment.

"The relationship between the GAA and the AFL will not be dependent on recruitment; it is one of the issues we talked about. There's no easy answer to recruitment; otherwise we'd have found it long ago."