I think way too much is made about physicality insofar that it is a complete myth. The key to the game yesterday was avoiding contact, which the Australians were much better at than us. Even when they were tackled, they had an immediate support man coming off the shoulder to dish an offload to. Same with the mark, a man would always appear in support at pace.

I don't agree that McKeever would have been perfect for the game. He is lumbering and coming to the end of his career. It's all about pace. Athletic and skillful players are required rather than bouncers. Have one or two target men, sure. The Australian keeper will almost always be a weakness, which we we can focus on. However it is very clear that we need lads like JO'D, Mark McHugh, Jamie Clarke rather than McKeever, AO'S etc.

bob_dolphin (Limerick) - Posts: 694 - 23/11/2014 15:21:29    1674332

Totally agree, there is plenty players you could have chosen ahead of McKeever,
not being disrespectful just my opinion that there is better choices,

MonaghanGlory (Monaghan) - Posts: 738 - 23/11/2014 16:01:10    1674346

As an Armagh man I would have to disagree. Clarke could play the game but do not think he is ideally suited. McKeever has deceptive pace but his main strength is his positional sense. For a Down man in Coulter, who excelled at the game, to say he should have been there says it all.

Armaghball (Armagh) - Posts: 96 - 23/11/2014 18:00:26    1674376

for me a traget man in full forward is a must in this game
as you can catch and get a free chance at goal
somebody like eoghan o gara would be ideal
then two accurate fast corner forwards outside him make the full forward line perfect
mcmanus o gara and o donoughe in the full forward line would work

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 23/11/2014 20:37:36    1674417

Soma
County: UK
Posts: 757

1674141
Sadly this game was not available for viewing in the UK so had to follow it on twitter and on here. The different views between both is amazing. Most on twitter were Aussies and thought it was an excellent game, they loved watching all their stars on the one field and are disappointed there isn't a second game in the series. Most on here just want to throw a few cheap shots at the players and call the whole thing a waste of time. I have little knowledge of twitter but apparently it was the 3rd most tweeted about event worldwide this morning - any chance our best players get for such exposure should be welcomed.

Soma, I live in London and i watched the live. Gaago sent me a voucher code (as a thank you for buying a 2014 GB SEASON PASS) . I used the code on the AFL WEBSITE WHERE T
HE GAME WAS TRANSMITTED LIVE. It was a very enjoyable game. Some inexplicable bad misses from irish players early on combined with some brilliant kicking from the aussies skewed the score somewhat. I actually think we were afraid of them in the first half. When we got stuck in we were their equal. It was interesting to hear the aussie commentary (with Setanta O' Halpin as co-commentator) for an australian perspective. They were genuinly excited to see all their best players forming a team to represent their country. They nenver see these guys playing on av team before so i think it was very exciting for them. I think the crowd were great too. It definitely has a future and if there is anything we can learn from playing these games then that only benefit GAA.

londonblue (Cavan) - Posts: 33 - 23/11/2014 20:57:23    1674428

hill16no1man
County: Dublin
Posts: 8817

1674417
for me a traget man in full forward is a must in this game
as you can catch and get a free chance at goal
somebody like eoghan o gara would be ideal
then two accurate fast corner forwards outside him make the full forward line perfect
mcmanus o gara and o donoughe in the full forward line would work
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Can't say I agree on Eoghan O'Gara. Again, he's in the mould of the players previously mentioned in being more physical than skillful, an enforcer. His skill has improved slightly, but it is still way off an elite level. Fast, athletic and skillful is the criteria here.

I'd be thinking Colm O'Neill or Brian Hurley who would fit this idea of a target man. Lads who are well able to move and have high skill levels. Obviously an interested Michael Murphy would slot into this role aswell. While Donaghy's powers are on the wane, his fielding ability is almost peerless in the country, and his footballing intellect is still razor sharp, so he could also do a job perhaps.

I'd personally love to see Paul Flynn and Connolly involved next year. Shane Walsh and Colin O'Riordan also. If we were ever able to get all the top level guys together against the best Australia has to offer, then it would make for a fantastic spectacle.

bob_dolphin (Limerick) - Posts: 694 - 23/11/2014 21:51:36    1674446

While this game gets a lot of negativity, it's well worth the effort for a few important reasons:

1. It is a great occasion for GAA fans living in Australia
2. It gives the players a good yardstick to measure themselves and how physically prepared they are. (Michael Murphy and Aiden O Shea would have learned a lot yesterday - neither looked remotely up to the pace)
3. The Aussies gave the Ireland players a lesson in kicking and fist passing (we like to think these are the main skills of our game but they no longer are)
5. The notion that there is a great footballer in every county was put to bed for good.
6. We learnt that most gaelic footballers can't kick their own score (even when given a free shot at goal)
7. Forcing the long kickout creates a proper contest for possession - worth a trial in GAA
8. Limiting the handpass forces players to kick the ball - worth a trail in GAA

On the game itself:
1. Ireland tactics were terrible
2. If the Aussies had a notion of how to score goals they would have hammered us.
3. If they had a goalkeeper who was actually a goalkeeper we would have no chance.
4. We need to use soccer skill to win
5. Irelands support play was poor
6. Our players showed great spirit and guts to fight back and make a show of it, but were fortunate Australia took their foot off the pedal in the third quarter.
7. We need to pick our best players if they are going to take it seriously. Cluxton, Connolly, MacCawley and Flynn would make a big difference.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1119 - 24/11/2014 08:52:05    1674456

cuederocket
County: Dublin
Posts: 1446

1674311
I agree with you Mesamis regards the Rugby.The blatant elitism of it growing up in Dublin has left a sour taste in my mouth to this day.Way too much media hype and coverage.Thank God for GAA.

Bang on man, a lot of nauseating things come out of the whole thing imo.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13717 - 24/11/2014 09:41:56    1674477

tirawleybaron
County: Mayo
Posts: 222

1674456
While this game gets a lot of negativity, it's well worth the effort for a few important reasons:

1. It is a great occasion for GAA fans living in Australia
2. It gives the players a good yardstick to measure themselves and how physically prepared they are. (Michael Murphy and Aiden O Shea would have learned a lot yesterday - neither looked remotely up to the pace)
3. The Aussies gave the Ireland players a lesson in kicking and fist passing (we like to think these are the main skills of our game but they no longer are)
5. The notion that there is a great footballer in every county was put to bed for good.
6. We learnt that most gaelic footballers can't kick their own score (even when given a free shot at goal)
7. Forcing the long kickout creates a proper contest for possession - worth a trial in GAA
8. Limiting the handpass forces players to kick the ball - worth a trail in GAA

I agree with points above excluding 2, 5 and 6.

Aidan OShea and Michael Murphy probably were singled out by the Aussies as our go to men, and they were given extra attention.
I would never put anything to bed for good. There are certainly good footballers all over the country. More in some counties than others, but some in each nonetheless. Up to this standard? Probably not.
On point 6, if a player doesnt kick their own score, where do the scores come from? I would say indecision would be a better way of putting it. It can be confusing on the pitch sometimes, especially when you are in a hard hitting game like the aussies play.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 24/11/2014 09:59:00    1674482

bob_dolphin

o gara is one of the fastest players on the dublin panel
dont let his size fool you
the point im making is
he is brilliant at winning his own ball
he is also great at catching, often with one hand even
which means he then would get a mark , a free kick at goal
so if hes anywhere on the 21 winning free kicks you will get plenty of 3 pointers
having two fast skillfull players outside him in the mould of o donougue and mcmanus who are both very accurate
makes the aussies have to mark both of them tight and they would win plenty of low fast balls
and leave o gara one on one every time
and i doubt if he doesnt catch a clean ball that the aussies would have a hope of pulling him down.
colm o neill played in the match the weekend and was terrible it didnt suit him at all
murphy played and was even worse.

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 24/11/2014 12:23:41    1674531

There was far more enjoyment watching TG4 yesterday than this rubbish. The best players don't participate hence its not our elite we were watching.

Time to end this expensive project and give the money to the clubs.

lowballplease (Galway) - Posts: 935 - 24/11/2014 13:38:46    1674545

While this game gets a lot of negativity, it's well worth the effort for a few important reasons:

1. It is a great occasion for GAA fans living in Australia
2. It gives the players a good yardstick to measure themselves and how physically prepared they are. (Michael Murphy and Aiden O Shea would have learned a lot yesterday - neither looked remotely up to the pace)
3. The Aussies gave the Ireland players a lesson in kicking and fist passing (we like to think these are the main skills of our game but they no longer are)
5. The notion that there is a great footballer in every county was put to bed for good.
6. We learnt that most gaelic footballers can't kick their own score (even when given a free shot at goal)
7. Forcing the long kickout creates a proper contest for possession - worth a trial in GAA
8. Limiting the handpass forces players to kick the ball - worth a trail in GAA

On the game itself:
1. Ireland tactics were terrible
2. If the Aussies had a notion of how to score goals they would have hammered us.
3. If they had a goalkeeper who was actually a goalkeeper we would have no chance.
4. We need to use soccer skill to win
5. Irelands support play was poor
6. Our players showed great spirit and guts to fight back and make a show of it, but were fortunate Australia took their foot off the pedal in the third quarter.
7. We need to pick our best players if they are going to take it seriously. Cluxton, Connolly, MacCawley and Flynn would make a big difference.

Irelands players kick wides in this game and misplace passes that they would never do playing for their own counties because they are not used to being wrap tackled.Its quite obvious a lot of player are terrified of being hit from behind and get rid of the ball as soon as possible

Its quite obvious that Irelands players kicked far too much when under pressure and don't relax enough.The reason the Aussies were good at taking their scores is because due to their greater pace they have they are invariably unmarked when kicking at goal whereas the Irish players were almost always under pressure and panicked.

Also the ball seems to be a decent bit lighter than an O'Neills ball so their is an adjustment for the Irish players to make also.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 24/11/2014 20:12:54    1674702

uibhfhaili1986 - they were kicking wides for two reasons
1. Poor support play meant they were under pressure when kicking
2. Only one of the six all star forwards from 2015 was playing and he played very poorly.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1119 - 25/11/2014 08:22:32    1674740

2014

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1119 - 25/11/2014 10:22:34    1674752

was out at the game, just happened to be in Perth at the time, was a very good crowd and the atmosphere wasn't too bad at all. Most people at the game seemed to enjoy it. Think this may have actually saved the series.

Rosineri1 (UK) - Posts: 2099 - 26/11/2014 12:26:56    1674983

Well I see the Australians just justified themselves as the sore losers of the world when it was confirmed their Rugby team, threw a tantrum and trashed the Aviva changing room and caused over €8000 worth of damage. Barely much on this but imagine if it was a GAA or soccer team.....the uproar would be heard from all angles.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11236 - 26/11/2014 12:35:20    1674986

yew_tree
County: Mayo
Posts: 6156

1674986
Well I see the Australians just justified themselves as the sore losers of the world when it was confirmed their Rugby team, threw a tantrum and trashed the Aviva changing room and caused over €8000 worth of damage. Barely much on this but imagine if it was a GAA or soccer team.....the uproar would be heard from all angles.



Dear of dear, what a load of wallybabies!!!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 26/11/2014 13:21:41    1674999

thats happened on numerous occasions in recent times as regards rugby teams in ireland...didnt harlequins do something similar over in galway?

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 26/11/2014 14:12:22    1675016