The fact that there is no longer any advantage to us in this game anymore makes me wonder why we're still doing this. It is no longer a compromise on the rules when the Aussies can play better with the round ball than we can. They were always fitter, stronger and better at catching than we were. Our advantage was down to the fact that they're not used to the round ball nor use a keeper. The goal keeper aspect was never going to be a major issue. When you see some of the points that the Aussies scored in the last few tests, you just have to sit back and admire their skill really.
Don't get me wrong, I know that they brought the over physical stuff to a new level in 05 and 06 but we didn't do ourselves any favours by trying to go toe to toe with them - there was only gonna be one winner. Not to mention the fact that the severe lack of officaldom and application and interpretation of the rules were all over the shop.
I was once a big fan, the series in 99 was terrific but I really don't see the point in this game anymore other than a holiday for the lads to Oz.

holymoly (Dublin) - Posts: 757 - 26/05/2008 16:10:16    23776

the whole fast and skillful approach was tried by pete mcgrath and it was a resounding failure. we have players just as good as the australians, just as fit and just as tough. ciaran whelan, conal keaney, shane ryan, peader byrne, paul galvin, noel o'leary, conor gormely, sean cavanagh, paddy bradley, stephen mcdonnell, these are the players that need to be picked. they are just as fit as any gaa player and are well able to take anything thrown at them. these lads love a challenge and would put it up to the australians. the only way the aussies will be beaten is at their own game and the likes of those players are the men to do it.

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 26/05/2008 16:10:27    23778

we should send a few lads with a bit of dirt in them,some one to rise the ausies.they dont like it when we take the mickey.

on the 40 (Longford) - Posts: 156 - 26/05/2008 16:13:04    23782

Have to say I am totally opposed to continuing this series but it seems that continue it will! The one question I would ask is why the Aussies can't play with the same discipline they play with at home? Their games there rarely descend into anarchy or punch-ups now. The answer probably is that they will be banned and disciplined. Because they will never allow any sanction cross from the hybrid game back to a domestic game we can expect more of the same thuggery in the next series. If there is no punishment whats the harm in the crime.

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 26/05/2008 16:31:39    23796

we should send a few lads with a bit of dirt in them,some one to rise the ausies.they dont like it when we take the mickey.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

and which dublin player springs to mind?

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 26/05/2008 16:39:01    23808

we should send a few lads with a bit of dirt in them,some one to rise the ausies.they dont like it when we take the mickey. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ and which dublin player springs to mind? Loyal2TheRoyal , 26/05/2008 at 16:39 .............................................................................. Nasty Loyal - considering it was a Meath man who was involved in the most unsavoury act of the Series when trying to rise the Aussies!

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 26/05/2008 16:44:13    23816

25 "strong" amateurs are still going to be made feel like boys against professionals who most of them have been in the gym for over 10 years....wont beat them like that. Faster the players the better I think...mixed in with a few big lads!

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 26/05/2008 16:45:01    23819

The thing that annoys me about the Australia victories in 05 and 06 was that they didn't have to resort to the hand bags, the OTT tackling nor the flying forearm smash that any wrestler would be proud of. They completely outplayed us in the football stakes in those games.

06 was a joke, plain and simple. It was bad enough that 05 occurred but then for the promise to be made that things were going to change, officialdom was going to get tougher and players would be punished etc and we saw none of this enforced. Watch the first 5 minutes of the second test on youtube - Tom Kelly and Ryan O'Keefe should have been sent off for throwing digs (while all of this is going on Australia score a goal). Sean Marty Lockhart loafed Ryan O'Keefe (who should have been sent off beforehand). One of the Aussie defenders deliberatley shouldered Benny Coulter in the face when through on goal, Shane Ryan did a dangerous slide tackle on an Australian player, while later on in the game Stevie McDonnell and his marker were punching the head off each other while the referee's just stood idly by!! I'm not even mentioning the non stop intimidation by the Australian players - simply put they could put you in hospital and get away with it!!

But we saw a number of things wrong from the start which I don't think will change such is the nature of the GAA and the fact that this is a massive burden on amateur players, some of which can not be taking time off work willy nilly. I don't think the squad ever got to train together as unit for more than twice in the preparation. Some players hadn't been involved in any high level matches since June or July in 06 so they were never going to be ready for a well prepared outfit like the Aussies who had been training together for 3 or 4 weeks before. The GAA as usual took the players for granted in thinking that the players from all over the country will be able to drive x amount of miles and still be able to go to work the next day back home. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail as Keano would say.

holymoly (Dublin) - Posts: 757 - 26/05/2008 16:55:30    23827

and which dublin player springs to mind?
Loyal2TheRoyal , 26/05/2008 at 16:39

Jason Sherlock?

holymoly (Dublin) - Posts: 757 - 26/05/2008 17:05:20    23837

marty clarke will be playing for ireland this time and he will be a big bonus. might not be that big but he will be able to ride the tackles.
if the aussies hurt him you can be sure the series will never be played again as collingwood would be against it.

Baker the glen (None) - Posts: 371 - 26/05/2008 17:14:07    23841

I cant understand why the GAA need to keep this series going. Like the Aussies have beaten the **** out of our players and then try to blame our lads for starting it, they have taken our best young players.Next thing they'll burn our houses and steal our women. A come to think of that might not be so bad. Dee, Dee how would you like a nice trip to Sydney.

chainsaw (Laois) - Posts: 712 - 26/05/2008 17:50:14    23864

It's a farcical series which has zero merit. Loyal and others who think that by sending our toughest lads we would somehow out muscle the Aussies is fanciful at best. The Aussies would knock seven shades out of whoever we send especially if we try to intimidate them physically. That's the difference between pros and amateurs. While our lads go to work on buiding sites and offices theirs go to the gym or work on their ballwork. As part of Aussie training regime they are also taught how to box.

The game itself is lousy and sending our lads out to get seriously hurt so that GAA hq can make some more advertising revenue is just a bad idea.

JackoDub (Dublin) - Posts: 458 - 26/05/2008 18:16:03    23879

agree with chainsaw

why bother nowadays

on the fence (Donegal) - Posts: 731 - 26/05/2008 18:20:55    23880

martin flanagen has to be there

ronan moran (None) - Posts: 49 - 26/05/2008 23:19:49    23975

love the irish blame game cause we got hammered at gaelic football by a few lads that never player it beforw they took it up in a week and hammered irelands best- those are the facts of the situation, with regard dicipline were do us irish people get off, the fact is the first 3 seperate punches in croker last year were from ireland- we started it but we wont admit it and we got hammered for our troubles- its embarassng really but in true gaa fashion we wont admit the truth as the truth isnt easy sold that we are not as good a footballers as we make out and our dicipline is pathetic - this is the truth so what do we do immediately start the blame game

ball-boy (Mayo) - Posts: 4211 - 27/05/2008 10:29:05    24078

ball-boy
County: Mayo
Posts: 951

24078 love the irish blame game cause we got hammered at gaelic football by a few lads that never player it beforw they took it up in a week and hammered irelands best- those are the facts of the situation, with regard dicipline were do us irish people get off, the fact is the first 3 seperate punches in croker last year were from ireland- we started it but we wont admit it and we got hammered for our troubles- its embarassng really but in true gaa fashion we wont admit the truth as the truth isnt easy sold that we are not as good a footballers as we make out and our dicipline is pathetic - this is the truth so what do we do immediately start the blame game


YawnYawnYawn. sorry for stealing your new word ballboy did you copy and paste this message or what because lets face it we have all heard this rubbish from you numerous times before.

samin10 (Armagh) - Posts: 2434 - 27/05/2008 10:34:02    24085

ball-boy
County: Mayo
Posts: 951

24078 love the irish blame game cause we got hammered at gaelic football by a few lads that never player it beforw they took it up in a week and hammered irelands best- those are the facts of the situation, with regard dicipline were do us irish people get off, the fact is the first 3 seperate punches in croker last year were from ireland- we started it but we wont admit it and we got hammered for our troubles- its embarassng really but in true gaa fashion we wont admit the truth as the truth isnt easy sold that we are not as good a footballers as we make out and our dicipline is pathetic - this is the truth so what do we do immediately start the blame game

Good man Ballyboy Kevin Sheedy could not have put it better.

chainsaw (Laois) - Posts: 712 - 27/05/2008 10:36:33    24088

yawn autoreply- report card reads please try harder!!

ball-boy (Mayo) - Posts: 4211 - 27/05/2008 10:36:49    24089

Easy.....'Snufalufagus 1 to 25'!

A match for any Aussie, just like when I laboured on the sites over there!
The pope had just died and one pagan started cursing the man when he found his daily paper was full of coverage of him and threw it out the door of the 'smoko-shed'.
Snufalufagus takes offence at the treatment of the man who single handedly brought down communisim, takes back in the paper and removes the centrespread picture and sticks it to the wall of the 'smoko-shed' with the warning that if the picture was removed before the man was laid to rest, some fellah was gonna suffer a pasting he would never forget!
The picture stayed up to only be removed by my own hand!

I had a lot of near misses on the site that week and I was the designated safety rep too!!!

So put me on the pitch to meet the Aussies anyday! No bronzed fancy-Dan would ever get by old Snuffy, just like the time I gave away 3 penalties in 20 mins!

Regards,

Snufalufagus......Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 27/05/2008 16:32:58    24416

snuf id pay to see that

ball-boy (Mayo) - Posts: 4211 - 27/05/2008 16:45:28    24429