AFL admit squads well below standard
The professional sports body met with the GAA Tuesday and while they stopped short of committing to next yearâs series they accepted the squads theyâve sent out both this year and in 2011 have been below standard.
Among the issues discussed were rule changes to persuade more physical AFL players to make themselves available, a change of scheduling, possibly to November, and the tests being staged over a shorter time period than the current seven-day completion.
âWe acknowledged all the people from the GAA and the AFL who have developed such good will and developed this series, which gives our players the chance to represent their countries,â said AFL director of football operations Mark Evans.
âWe discussed a whole range of things about how we can improve the series, including the fact the success of the series is dependent on getting the best players to participate from the spectacle, from the interest point of view.
âOver the last couple of series I donât think the Australians have had their very best teams. Some of our very best players arenât overly-suited to the hybrid game.
âWe talked about whether there could be some modifications to the game which might assist that.â
However, Evans gave no commitment to next yearâs series taking place in Australia although it is the GAAâs hope it will go ahead.
âI donât want to talk about guarantees. What I will talk about it is the flavour of the meeting which was very productive about how we can look to the future.
âThat [no guarantees] would include next year. I know the GAA have expressed their desire to look at options for next year. We talked about potential venues if we can get it going but it will come back to the AFL holding up its side of the bargain and getting the commitment of the best players to play the game.â
Evans stressed nothing was agreed about the rule changes at the meeting but hopes any amendments would entice the cream of the AFL crop to put their hands up for inclusion.
âIn particular we were thinking about some modifications to rules that allow taller, bigger players to participate in the game and create that balance where the taller players having some sort of aerial strength and the smaller players having the strength once the ball hits the ground. We just discussed a few of those things and we will work on those in the coming months.â
He also accepted the level of physical contests in tests can also increase. âThere is some physicality in the game but I think the opinion is that we have been very protective of that given the recent history from about 10 years ago.
âMaybe a small amount more physicality would be a good thing. Itâs just about getting the right balance. There are advantages for the Irish players, particularly the shape of the ball and goalkeeping and things like that.
âThere are some advantages for the Australians but I think what has happened over the last few years is the Irish lads have caught up on those. The game is 30 years young. Itâs not an old game. There is still an opportunity to tweak some of those rules and make it a better contest.â
Evans didnât discount the possibility of the series being run off over five days â the first test on a Saturday and second and final one on a Wednesday. The AFL and GAA also discussed staging the series on a more regular basis than a home and away series every three years. The parties hope to talk further about the future of the series in the next couple of months.
The GAA are keeping their fingers crossed the recent bad weather holds off this evening as they hope for a crowd of 35,000.
Earlier in the week, well under 20,000 tickets had been sold for the game and the fear is people will be put off by Irelandâs virtually unassailable 22-point lead going into the second and final test in Croke Park.
In the infamous violence-fuelled 2006 series, Australia turned around an eight-point deficit and won the second test by a staggering 38 points. The last test in Croke Park three years ago, attracted an attendance of 61,842.
