'Let's try them out' - Kerry boss Jack O’Connor broadly backs proposed rule changes

Although O’Connor has reservations about how the delayed foul proposals might be implemented and suggests the new advanced mark may require an amendment, he supports the majority of rule changes.

They include a minimum of three outfield players in each half at all times, the solo and go and two points for a converted kick from play or a free (not 45) outside a new 40-metre arc.

“In general, I think the proposed rule changes are very positive,” opened O’Connor. “They’re intended to speed up the game and reduce some of the negativity that has come into the game. The (FRC) boys have done a great job with them, they have put a lot of thought into them and let’s try them out.

“The three-up is the one I said all along would be a game-changer because when you turn over the ball, you’re going to be able to kick and it will speed up the game and reduce the amount of bodies on the other side of the field.

“The one I would be slightly worried about is moving the ball forward 50 metres for deliberately slowing down a free kick. While you want the game to be played on quickly, I think the rule could be open to exploitation a bit like the black card when it came out first and a lot of boys were deliberately running into boys and there was a lot of fellas being hard done by. Referees need to watch that one if it comes in.

“But, by and large, these rules will help the game. The inside forward has become an endangered species really when you think about it. One point from play kicked between six of them in the All-Ireland final, that shouldn’t be the case. By right, your inside forwards should be getting most of your scores. The game had turned into a stalemate in many ways and it wasn’t enjoyable to watch it or to coach it or to play it, I would say.” 

Critics of the three-v-three measure claim goalkeepers will push forward to create 12-v-11 overloads but O’Connor doesn’t envisage that happening too often. “I think teams are going to push higher up the pitch because if you back off into your own half, you’re almost inviting the goalie up.

“The implication is putting more pressure further up the field. It’s only when teams retreat that you will see goalies go up. You’d be a brave man to go ahead of the ball while there is being pressure put on where the ball is.” However, O’Connor really is concerned about how referees might be hoodwinked by the 50m advancement for the likes of delays and dissent. “Anything that speeds up the game is good and the solo and go is obviously after a free and referees have to be careful about players looking to be delayed to get the 50m advantage. Lads have to get out of the way but sometimes they don’t have time to do that.

“Having to give the ball to the opposing team, I can’t envisage how that is going to work. I’d suggest it’s very difficult for players to hand over the ball in the white heat of battle. Maybe drop the ball where the foul happened but handing it back respectfully, I would have my doubts about that one.” 

O’Connor is happy to see the FRC return the value of a goal to three points from four. “I never agreed with the four because I just felt like a point would become like a behind in International Rules. It would become almost incidental. I think it’s fine. The two-point rule, obviously people like long-range kicking and defenders will have to push out rather than parking themselves around the old ‘D’.” He likes the change to the advanced mark, which if passed can be won inside the 20m line but notes how difficult the luxury of advantage for a goal chance and the compensation of a free for attackers will be for their markers.

“It had become a little bit farcical with a dinky 20m kick into the chest out around the 45 counting for one. That’s not what the rule was designed for. This will promote more directing kicking inside at times.

“The only thing I would be worried about is it’s going to make life awful tough for inside backs. Like, how long is advantage going to last? I think they will have to put a time limit on that. If it’s left up to the referee’s discretion, every referee will have a different interpretation. There will have to be some definitive time put on that advantage, I would suggest.” 

O’Connor experienced the clock/hooter during his time playing in New York and is a fan. Having spoken out about time-wasting during sin-bins before, he also welcomes the proposal stoppages will be taken into consideration during those 10-minute periods.

“In Gaelic Park, there was no point pretending you were injured because the clock was stopped. The time-wasting during black cards over the last few years had become farcical. It only a question of who was going to go down.” 

O’Connor also hopes the rules will come into effect for the club game at the same time as county despite concerns from boards there will be practical issues to hurdle for that to happen. “You can’t play one game with the club and another with the county. There is no sense in that.”