Last nights match in omagh duly highlighted how pathetic this rule is..of course most catches did not warrant a mark as players found the space themselves to deliver the ball after their catch, and then we had the inept interpretation of the "advantage" by the ref...Why did he insist in blowing his whistle after every catch by a player thus confusing the players, and in the second half when Peter Harte made an excellent catch and moved into space in front of him...White not only blew the whistle once but twice when he was clean through...of course the resulting free kick resulted in a loss of possession...This rule is pathetic, and only was an attempt to pander to a myth that in the "olden" days football was an excellent game with high fielding at midfield..The reality is that old football was c***. the sooner this rule is abandoned the better.

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 24/01/2010 21:44:12    541404

The players and officials need time to get used to the new experimental rules.

Give it a few weeks grace before knocking it please.

JuanVeron (Westmeath) - Posts: 1866 - 24/01/2010 22:00:20    541428

Players need time to adjust, it's always difficult to incorporate a new rule when you spend 20 years not using it, give it a chance it might work yet

Footballforever (UK) - Posts: 92 - 25/01/2010 09:25:33    541473

The reason players could deliver the ball after catching it is that players aren't swamping around him when he lands.

I think the players aren't used to it yet. Its been treated too much like winning a free - I even seen players in one game giving the ball to another player to take the kick. The forwards kind of pull up then start their runs again instead of it turning into a fluid movement - the best example i seen of it is Marty Clarke's take on youtube. I like it but it'll take time for everyone to get used to it

radiotower (Cavan) - Posts: 75 - 25/01/2010 09:33:48    541482

I read this morning that Michael Quirke from Kerry made 7 marks yesterday. Jack O'Connor must have been very happy with this experimental rule.

I do think there needs to be some refinement made to allow the player to play on or the ref to play advantage. Overall I think it needs more time before a decision is made.

blu (Down) - Posts: 1240 - 25/01/2010 09:42:12    541488

The mark should be kept BUT only to be implemented within the two 45's and also giving the player the opportunity to either play on, or take his mark.

Would promote excellent high fielding in middle of the park although let us keep the tussles we love up front!

Inevitably it will take a bit of getting used too, but hardly rocket science. Think of some of the drills you be at in training, 10 times harder to comprehend!

Anyone see any problems with this?

Down Exile (Down) - Posts: 214 - 25/01/2010 10:19:40    541513

Yes.

It's a pointless rule plucked out of nowhere by the big shots up in HQ. GAA survived 125 years without "the mark", and I'm sure it will survive fine without it.

The only useful purpose it will serve is to groom more of our younger players for when they decide to move to Australia..

EnolaGay (Tyrone) - Posts: 653 - 25/01/2010 10:40:36    541518

all of the above responses deal with players getting used to the mark...that is not the point...the refs are making it up as they go along...i have been to 3 different matches and already 3 different refs have used different interpretations..it's a joke, and on saturday night it was almost laughable...so what if quirke makes 7 clean catches and gets 7 marks..the result is that when play develops from the mark, it's even more congested beause players have that vital few seconds to get themselves in position to defend the next pass/punt up the field..the whole thing is a complete joke and doesn't need any more time..its ruining the game..

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 25/01/2010 11:59:12    541600

Rubbish rule.
Only way it may work (and even then) is when the player can call it and not the ref.
Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish rule.

watching (Tyrone) - Posts: 853 - 25/01/2010 12:39:41    541659

Terrible rule and it will not work.

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 25/01/2010 17:36:41    542105

QUOTE:
It's a pointless rule plucked out of nowhere by the big shots up in HQ. GAA survived 125 years without "the mark", and I'm sure it will survive fine without it.


If that was the way then we'd still be playing 21 a-side with a goal outweighting any number of points and taking all frees from the ground....
The game has to keep developing to try and improve it. Its worth trying out over a period of time and seeing the pros and cons.

radiotower (Cavan) - Posts: 75 - 25/01/2010 17:40:41    542111

People dont seem to get it............

THE MARK WAS BROUGHT IN TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PLAYERS TO ADAPT WHEN PLAYING THE AUSSIES

If they keep going there soon wont be any need to compromise... we in Ireland will be playing Aussie Rules

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 25/01/2010 17:54:58    542136

There are a number of lads on here who appear to suggest that the mark was only introduced to erradicate swarmin a catcher after he has fielded a high ball and they suggest that Tyrone are the arch villains closely followed by the rest of the Ulster counties and the introduction of the mark will facilitate a more classy footballin county winnin the AI. All I would suggest is that the Tyrone men (for example) keep their counsel and go and win the AI this year. Then inevitably HQ will bin the rule for not havin the desired effect. It might not even last that long. To be honest I am all in favour of additions to our games that improve matches as spectacles. But if there were to be any truth to the suggestion that HQ did actually introduce this test rule change to purposely stimey Ulster counties then it would be even more delicious to witness Ulster success in september. I choose to believe that HQ are extremely unlikely to be so churlish and it may just be a figment of our Ulster persecusion complex. I hope so anyway.

gaelantrim (Antrim) - Posts: 1616 - 25/01/2010 18:27:24    542178

The Mark will suit the teams that want to play football. Teams that primarily like to stop their opponents playing ball will not be too happy to see the mark being introduced. I'm all for the mark, Fielding the ball is a great skill and players should have some sort of an advantage after doing so I think.

PJ (None) - Posts: 2288 - 25/01/2010 18:52:15    542211

25/01/2010 17:54:58
BIG SACKS
County: Tyrone
Posts: 905

542136
People dont seem to get it............

THE MARK WAS BROUGHT IN TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PLAYERS TO ADAPT WHEN PLAYING THE AUSSIES

If they keep going there soon wont be any need to compromise... we in Ireland will be playing Aussie Rules

Honestly, Do you believe that the GAA changed the rules of the game just to have a better chance of winning a pair biennial friendly matches?

JuanVeron (Westmeath) - Posts: 1866 - 25/01/2010 19:03:41    542227

gaelic football and its rules are unique do not spoil it.

THE MARK IS A SHAMBLES.

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 25/01/2010 20:15:33    542306

PJ..the point is that the mark is not doing anything to suit teams playing football...hence the reference to peter harte on saturday night...i have already seen many examples where refs are blowing for the mark, and it slows the game down completely...how does that facilitate teams who want to play football...it only facilitates a player who fields a ball and when he comes down he stops for a round of applause..

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 25/01/2010 21:00:50    542368

link this is the mark by Niall McKenna that caused confusion. Maybe he didn't make the mark between the two 45s> I don't know, just trying to second guess why he was called back. Maybe refs just need to all get up to speed, we all make mistakes. Overall, I think it's a great addition. There's a stat that there were only 9 catches in the middle in last year's All Ireland Final, and only 7 times did these lead to an advantage, ie, the fielder usually lost the ball or got a free given against him when he was swarmed by the time he came down with the ball. At least the mark rewards the catch and gives him the chance for a free kick.

Crossman (Down) - Posts: 153 - 25/01/2010 21:01:00    542369

I cant believe the outright hostility the new rule changes on this board and the overall perception of some posters that all has been perfect for the last 125 years.

To Big Sacks: Lets revert to the old rules when a goal scored outweighs any number of points. Kindly hand back two All Irelands please.

Enola Gay-Yes we survived without the mark for a long time, shall we go back to sideline kicks from the hand, or even back to the 1940's and before when there were no sideline kicks, the ball was thrown in?

The committee tasked with looking at rule changes for the betterment of the game included 2 refs, 2 managers, 3 from Croke Park, and 2 former players which were Anthony Rainbow and Oisin McConville, players of very high pedigree indeed. I would trust their opinion far above the rather blinkered view. Games must adapt to changing times, tactics, higher level of fitness, and whether you like it or not, supporters/spectators/television opinions.

bogger from meath (Meath) - Posts: 231 - 25/01/2010 21:13:21    542388

Is it just me or is it mainly Tyrone & mayo people opposed to trying the mark?

blu (Down) - Posts: 1240 - 25/01/2010 21:15:43    542392