AFL not keen on domestic suspensions

The Australian Football League (AFL) are not interested in altering the rules so that players who commit offences in International Rules risk being suspended from their domestic game.

That's the view of AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou, who will meet with GAA officials in January to iron out any outstanding issues from the 2005 International Rules Series.

One significant alteration that is likely to be sought by the GAA is the ruling that a player who is red-carded can be replaced.

As it currently stands, the sent-off player's team can bring on a replacement as Australia did after captain Chris Johnson was sent-off for his disgraceful "clotheline" tackle on Philip Jordan in last Friday's second Test.

Demetriou, who has received no official complaint from the GAA as regards the Aussies' rough-house tactics last week, said: "I have met with the GAA certainly, but they expressed no concern to me, so no, not all all (is there any suggestion of reviewing the future of the concept).

"We have another eight years of the agreement to run and the GAA are looking forward to hosting Australia in Ireland next year," he told the Herald Sun newspaper.

The immediate task for the AFL and GAA is to convene a disciplinary panel - with two representatives from Australia and one from Ireland - for a video review of the 2005 Series and its incidents.

Following the review, Brisbane Lions defender Johnson is likely to be charged and suspended from next year's Series in Dublin.