What's International Rules' about and who really cares?

[Jumpin' Jimmy]

We as yet don't have a replacement.

AN indiginous Vs rest game might be entertaining but it is meaningless except it in a politically incorrect way .Also seems to be an issue with midseason games .IMO that suggestion ranks way below a proper SOO series .
That being a SOO round(s) with a SOO final.

That is a very narrow interpretation. After all it is an Australian game which some claim the aboriginals invented. They certainly play as though they have.

Whether games are played preseason or end of season is always a tough decision.

I'd like to see SOO alternating one year and the Indigenous v Rest game the next.

 

[TheBigT]

I think the AFL might have to do something about the lack of stars, apart from Boomer Harvey there would not be a top ten player in the team.

Bit harsh on Thompson there, but it's a definate issue. Shows how many of the players feel about the concept.

 

[MunsterMac]

It's amazing that IR is surviving at all given that it is not popular in Australia and the general attitude in Ireland is apathy combined with 'what a waste of money.

Who wants it exactly??

As for some of the specific points raised in this thread:

Because we have the professional footballers we agree to play with a round ball - I'd love to see a game of IR played with the oval ball. Why is ARs played with an oval ball anyway? I can understand it in rugby and american 'football' but why is it necessary in AR. It's a pit cause its the main barrier to IR becoming meaningful.

and agree not to bash the life out of the accountants, - I watch a bit of AR and I've never seen any of the mindless thuggery witnessed in 2006. It seems that when an aussie pulls on a gold and green jersey he feels the need to prove just how manly he is. As soon as any physicallity enters the game the aussies feel the need to start knocking lumps out of the nearest green jersey. It wouldn't be acceptable in AR so why should it be acceptable in IR?

The Aussies are full-time professionals in the greatest game on the planet - You've obviously never seen our game of hurling. Amazing skills, speed and teak-tough players who never take a step back. Most people feel their sport is the best whereas we know ours is the best. Have a look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luQ2Vxez2V4&feature=related

If I had my way I'd ban Gaelic and Soccer in this country and get them playing Hurling.

 

[cos789]

Who wants it exactly??

The AFL and especially the GAA; the people who attend the games and watch it on TV .Pretty simple stuff .

. Why is ARs played with an oval ball anyway? I can understand it in rugby and american 'football' but why is it necessary in AR. It's a pit cause its the main barrier to IR becoming meaningful.

Obviously you don't think very deeply if haven't realised that Australian Football is the only game with a ball specifically designed for kicking (accurately) over long distances .

It's a pit cause its the main barrier to IR becoming meaningful.

Who's hung up on a game being "meaningful"?

I watch a bit of AR and I've never seen any of the mindless thuggery witnessed in 2006.

Obviously you've never watched any of the AFL highlights packages.
It's not a question of wanting to crush the Irish it's just because the Aussies can .They are so easy pickings compared to AFL where the players are more adept at avoiding being pinged .

You've obviously never seen our game of hurling.

Funnily enough people in Australia do have TV and have seen Hurling.
"Great" has many criteria .I'd imagine a solid acceptance is one of them.

 

[MunsterMac]

The AFL and especially the GAA

Trust me. The GAA really don't need this. They make millions every year from the domestic games and everyone here is perplexed as to why they're so in to it. The AFL seem to be far more up for it as they seemed to be willing to promise the GAA anything to get it back on track after the 2006 disaster. And don't forget it was the Aussies who initiated this why back in the mists of time.

the people who attend the games and watch it on TV

From my experience most of said people watch out of curiosity and could take it or leave it without too much bother. Should the GAA and AFL announce tomorrow that the whole thing was scrapped for good I don't think too many tears would be shed either side of the equator.

To answer my own question (with a bit more insight) I think the only people who genuinely want it to continue are the players who seem to really enjoy representing their country.

Obviously you don't think very deeply if haven't realised that Australian Football is the only game with a ball specifically designed for kicking (accurately) over long distances.

Nope you'll have to forgive my shallow mind but I still don't get why this would necessitate the ball being oval. Other than eliminating spin on the ball when kicked I don't understand why you didn't just vary the weight of the round ball if you wanted greater distance. The only reason an oval ball is used in rugby is for ease of passing. Just curious

Who's hung up on a game being meaningful

Ehh, anyone who wants the game to have a future. DAAAAAA! Obviously if both codes use the same shape ball suddenly the whole thing becomes workable.

Obviously you've never watched any of the AFL highlights packages.
It's not a question of wanting to crush the Irish it's just because the Aussies can .They are so easy pickings compared to AFL where the players are more adept at avoiding being pinged

Actually I watch quite a bit (along with many other sports) and I've yet to see one aussie player blind side an opponent, then sit on him while beating him to a pulp. I'm not talking about the legal tackle (which the Irish do have problems with because it doesn’t exist in Gaelic) I'm talking about punches, clothes-line tackles, shoulder charges to the ribs, etc etc. Are these legal in AR and if the Aussies did nothing wrong in 2006 why did the AFL spend the last 2 years bending over backwards tweaking the rules to get the series up and running again?

Funnily enough people in Australia do have TV and have seen hurling."Great" has many criteria .I'd imagine a solid acceptance is one of them.

I'm impressed. I lived in London for 10 years and didn't meet one person who had a clue what it was other than maybe the effects of a hard night's drinking.


You are right. A solid acceptance of other sports is necessary and God knows I've watched them all including Backgammon on Eurosport.

However, I've watched Brazil play England at Wembly in soccer, the great Australian team of the 80s play Ireland in rugby union and witnessed many great occasions when Munster Rugby play at the cathedral that is Thomond Park.

However none of them can compare to a white hot Munster Championship Hurling match in front of 55,000 rabid supporters when 30 amateur players who've put their lives on hold for the previous 9 months tear into each other without pause for 70 mins for nothing other that the pride of the jersey they wear on their backs.

I've taken Americans, French and English people to matches over the years and once they've picked their jaws up off the floor all they want to know is when is the next match on.

Sorry I digress. Aussie Rules is a fine game also.

 

[razmatazbaz]

i myself live in ireland and i think aussie rules is a top game.
very exciting and plently of skill and big hits.

on international rules series i thought was decent, the last 2 games were of a high standard and very exciting.

i understand what the aussie boys were saying, it just feel like the irish get the roll of the rules but the marks and the tackles are still massive advantages for the aussies.
by cutting the hand passes down to 4 in a row is actually giving advantage to the aussies as alot of gaelic football now days the ball is moved mostly by hand passing and the aussies imo are better movers of the ball by foot.

i think its worth keeping a round as it gives the chance to players to represent there country be it in a hybird game.
i think the irish are the only country capable of giving the aussies a challenge in modiflied rules.

both are great sports.

 

[cos789]

Nope you'll have to forgive my shallow mind but I still don't get why this would necessitate the ball being oval. Other than eliminating spin on the ball when kicked I don't understand why you didn't just vary the weight of the round ball if you wanted greater distance. The only reason an oval ball is used in rugby is for ease of passing. .

Sorry , We cannot forgive such an elimentary ignorance of science .

The only reason an oval ball is used in rugby is for ease of passing. .

Which backs up what I said about the Australian Football is the only ball designed for kicking accuately over long distances .

 

[Deledinho]

I think the AFL might have to do something about the lack of stars, apart from Boomer Harvey there would not be a top ten player in the team.

Oi! Axel Foley is a given in our top 10!

 

[Vaughn "Thommo"]

Hurling is a fantastic game and I would rather watch it than rugby League, Union or Soccer . especially the country games where there is a bit more biff and broken hurleys over the backs stuff . Yes the Irish boys have it in them to dish it out and that is why I think we should leave a bit of the rough stuff in the IRgames .