International Rules

Replying To FullOfPorter:  "While true for most of the players playing there will be some young lads that will be put on show. For arguments sake, if the mutant borefest rules game had been still an annual thing, it is highly likely Finbarr Roarty would have been on an Irish panel last year, the Aussies would have got a really good idea how suited he is to the game. As it happens they went after him anyway. Would Oisin Mullin gave been 22 when he left for AFL? He was YPOTY and would definitely have made an Irish panel. There are a few in that 19-22 age bracket that could potentially be on an Irish panel if there was a game this year, aside from Kobe McDonald and Roarty this year you had the likes of Charlie McMorrow and Dara McDonnell who may have got called up.

The big question that has to be asked is why the Aussies are so keen to get this back up and running. On the face of it why would a professional game in a niche sport restricted to Australia be so eager to get back playing a mixed rules game with an amateur niche sport restricted to Ireland? What is in it for them, it can't be a huge money spinner, there's no global tv rights to be sold and millions wanting to see it, sponsorship revenue would be small beans as well.

I think they see this as a networking strategy for recruitment. Yes the shop window for young lads in the games is small but it is also an advertising board for young lads watching the games, it also gives the Aussies access to players and people on the GAA scene when they are over, no doubt there'll be functions and all that goes with that. They might even see it as a way to recruit scouts and get more eyes on the ground here. Getting Irish lads over is a shot to nothing for them, even if they only find a success in one in four, they're all categorised as Category B rookies. The GAA need to be very wary, there's a major power imbalance and if Kobe wins the award this year, that means 3 YPOTY will have been lost in the space of 4 or 5 years. That is the top up and coming talent."

Replying To Kew:  "That usually came up when the Aussies started beating up the Irish players. It was just explaining why the Aussies were stronger and able to bully the Irish lads."

Replying To Kew:  "That usually came up when the Aussies started beating up the Irish players. It was just explaining why the Aussies were stronger and able to bully the Irish lads."