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Really there is no way a compensation schme can be put in place. If a GAA player chooses not to register with hi sclub, there is no connection - he is free to do what he wants.

Tyrone Dreamer mentioned a common amateur background - that doesn't exist. Aussie Rules has been at least semi-pro for 100 years. Even players in country and suburban leagues get paid - not living wage but 10 grand or so.

The big difference in mindset seems to be around the "volunteers". You guys seem to see players from your clubs moving on as a bad thing, and a reason not to volunteer, Here it is the exact opposite - whether in Aussie rules, rugby, rugby league, soccer or cricket. Our volunteers see their role as to preparing players to move on to better and bigger things. It is a source of pride to have a player leave. Many clubs only field teams up to Under 17 level, with the expectation that players will move on.

FFS - no one argues that the clothesline was illegal. Those sort of things should be penalised in both games.

BUT, if you really care about what is allowed in AFL, read Law 15.4 (some of which is below)

The only way the Gerathy tackle could be penalised would be under 15.4.5 (k) - however in AFL terms Gerathy had not "disposed" of the ball, as he simply dropped it.

The bump on Coulter would have been legal, as under Law 15.4.5 (n) a front on bump is only illegal if the players head is down over the ball.

Some of the AFL clubs have already come out and said that while they are not against suspensions for players who are guilty of grave misconduct, they don't support suspensions for players who have not breached AFL standards.

15.4.3 Permitted Contact
Other than the Prohibited Contact identified under Law 15.4.5, a
Player may make contact with another Player:
(a) by using his or her hip, shoulder, chest, arms or open hands
provided that the football is no more than 5 metres away from
the Player;
(b) by pushing the other Player with an open hand in the chest or
side of the body provided that the football is no more than 5
metres away from the Player;
(c) by executing a Correct Tackle;
(d) by executing a Shepherd provided that the football is no more
than 5 metres away from the Player; or
(e) if such contact is incidental to a marking contest and the Player
is legitimately Marking or attempting to Mark the football.

15.4.5 Prohibited Contact and Payment of Free Kick
A field Umpire shall award a Free Kick against a Player where he or
she is satisfied that the Player has made Prohibited Contact with an
opposition Player.
A Player makes Prohibited Contact with an opposition Player if he
or she:
(a) makes contact with any part of his or her body with an
opposition Player;
(i) above the shoulders (including the top of the shoulders
or bump to the head); or
(ii) below the knees.

(b) pushes an opposition Player in the back, unless such contact
is incidental to a Marking contest and the Player is legitimately
Marking or attempting to Mark the football;
(c) holds an opposition Player who is not in possession of the
football;
(d) pushes, bumps, blocks, holds an opposition Player or
deliberately interferes with the arms of an opposition Player,
who is in the act of Marking or attempting to Mark the football;
(e) pushes, bumps, holds or blocks an opposition Player when
the football is further than 5 metres away from the opposition
Player or is out of play;
(f) pushes, bumps, holds or blocks an opposition Player who is
contesting a bounce or throw by a field Umpire or boundary
throw in;
(g) charges an opposition Player;
(h) trips or attempts to trip an opposition Player, whether by the
use of hand, arm, foot or leg;
(i) kicks or attempts to kick an opposition Player, unless contact
is accidentally made whilst the Player is Kicking the football;
(j) strikes or attempts to strike an opposition Player, whether by
hand, fist, arm, knee or head;
(k) holds or throws an opposition Player after that Player has
disposed of the ball;
(l) engaging in rough conduct against an opponent which in the
circumstances is unreasonable; or
(m) kicking or attempting to Kick the ball in a manner likely to
cause injury.
(n) bumps or makes forceful contact to an opponent from front-on
when that player has his head down over the ball.
Note:
- a player can bump an opponent's body from side-on but any
contact forward of side-on will be deemed to be front-on;
- a player with his head down in anticipation of winning
possession of the ball or after contesting the ball will be
deemed to have his head down over the ball for the purposes
of this law.

Very very doubtful the IR series will start, and it is obvious the GAA don't want it to.

Very clever work by the GAA to have proposed rule changes which the AFL clubs (ie not the AFL) will no support. That way when the series is finally put to bed, the GAA can say "well we tried our best".

There is no way an AFL club will release a player to play in a game where they could be sent off for doing something that is legal in AFL, and be suspended from real AFL matches (ie what they are paid for, and where the clubs make their money). The clubs will also not want any restrictions on their recruiting activities.

[would]

[ And yes, the tackle on Geraghty would have been illegal in Australian Rules too. And the offender would have been put on report and would have had to face a tribunal on the following monday night, from which he could have received a suspension. ...

Re the clubs not releasing their players?  I don't think that will be too much of an issue (though no doubt they will complain).  Already the players leave their clubs  mid-season to play for their State of Origin in a representative competition e.g. Victoria v. South Australia  v. West Australia etc.    Not wanting your player to get injured representing your country is one thing,  but not wanting a suspension would not be much of an excuse if the same rules of suspension are applied to every game they play

Actually the tackle on Gerathy would have been legal in Aussie Rules - depending on the individual umpire, possibly a free kick, but nothing more.

Also, State of Origin no longer exists - it died about 10 years ago. Guess why? The clubs wouldn't release their players.

There is no way known that clubs will release players who may be sent off for something legal in AFL (eg a solid hip & shoulder) which will see them suspended from AFL games.

Especially when the GAA players are effectively exempt from any punishment.

It is also within the AFL clubs interest to see the links die so they have no regulation on recruiting.

A few ways around it :

1) All GAA players be invited to apply for a pro (really semi-pro) contract. The GAA to be the employer. Part of the terms of the contract is that the employer can assign the employee to any branch of the company (ie. county team) that they see fit. No different than working for a bank and being sent to a particular branch. That way the player cannot complain about where they are sent (unless it is completely unfeasible which is ulikely in a country the size of Ireland). Maintains county "loyalty". Players cannot demand a transfer as there is only 1 employer (the US Major League Soccer model)

2) Players are invited to apply, with the acceptance that they will play for whoever picks them (the US NFL & NBAand Australian AFL model). If they don't like it, they can always stay with their amateur minor league club.

3) stay as is - some players will be paid under the table, others will go to AFL, others will quit, most will just play.

Yes it stinks - but we can't do anything about that. However you've made an interesting observation there - they started out with similar ideals to the GAA, and now if you grow up playing football in Sydney you're just as likely to end up playing in Freo or Brisbane as you are in your home town. The players on the field play for money, and nothing else, while teams exist where the money exists to pay for them. You can't tell me that's where we want GAA to go - and anyone suggesting any form of semi professionalism is taking the crucial step in that direction.

[/quote]

You forget that 99% of Aussie Rules players play for their local club - either for nothing or a token payment. Only the elite travel around the country to make a living from it.

The standard if a fight breaks out also is to let play continue, and let the fight take care of itself - guys generally stop fighting if there is a ball to be chased.

I have never heard so much nonsense in my life! I am going to take the players' side of it here and not the referees'.
Have you ever been on the receiving end of a dig in a football match? What is the first reaction you have? Dig back!
Now, as a referee;
Two men punching away at each other, there's a good chance that it will develop into a 30 man brawl. Nip it in the bud immediately. Put them both off.
I am finding your message to be very strange.
Am I missing some sort of very subtle sarcasm?

No

Remember I am talking about the AFL approach to umpiring, not the GAA one.

Firstly, in AFL there is no send off rule. I repeat no send off rule. The umpire can abandon the match, but he cannot send off a player regardless of what he does. He can report him, but that's all.

Secondly there are 3 umpires on the field - and it is a big field. So, play is allowed to continue while 1 of the umpires keeps an eye on the incident. Umpires will never ever touch the players to pull them apart. Of course if it is an all-in then play may stop, but not a couple of guys having a bit of a punch on.

That's why in one of last years games there was a score while a fight was going on - the Aussie umpire just followed the play as he was used to doing. Not saying it was right in IR, but thats what happedned.

True

Plus AFL umpires are used to seeing more contact - it just doesn't register. Just because someone gets huurt doesn't mean thee is a foul or play should stop.

The standard if a fight breaks out also is to let play continue, and let the fight take care of itself - guys generally stop fighting if there is a ball to be chased.

That's the view in Ireland - not the view in Australia.

Personally I think the whole thing should be forgotten about. The GAA will never be happy unless all physical contact is removed. The Australians will never get that the Irish see things like Pearces excellent (in our eyes) tackle on Gerathy or the shoulder bump on Coulter are 'thuggish'.

Also, any attempt to carry over suspensions into the regular seasons won't work - the clubs will just ban their players from playing. Why would they take the risk?

is this to do with the very biased refereeing of the australian official last time out?

More to do with the biased umpiring of the Irish guy I hear - depends how you look at it

Not suggesting this is what should be done, but for interest in some amateur and low level semi-pro (maybe only the playing coach and 1 or 2 players being paid) Aussie Rules leagues a point system is used.

Each player is given a point allowance, and a club can field a certain number of total points. So, a local junior who has only ever played for the club is worth 1 point, a local junior returning to the club is 2 points etc etc, up to a paid player with no junior connection being worth, say, 15 points. Total points the team is allowed may be 50.

The system allows players to move around, but still provides an incentive to produce your own juniors and stops 1 team dominating the league or enticing too many paid players.

Cheers 5ive! Fair play to Clarke.

Good luck to him. Hopefully I'll be at the Collingwood-Geelong game next week

But, he is a soft outside receiver at this stage

Typical of amateur sport. Wouldn't happen in professional sport. Pros have to work next day.

The amateurs have to work as well Tiger and an awful lot harder than the pros - they can't go for a massage/swim before gym work etc.

Had a good laugh at the commentary though

It was a joke Decco. The boys in that punch up were amateurs.

Just remembering in the IR you blokes saying that violence and "thuggishness" doesn't happen in amateur sports - well in does in the NT 

Damn thuggish Aussies at it again-

Great commentary tough- Eddie Fogarty eat your heart out.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ede_1189614495

Typical of amateur sport. Wouldn't happen in professional sport. Pros have to work next day.

What if the GAA were to set up their own AFL Franchise, stocked completely with irishmen, to compete in australia? they'd have the biggest roster to pick from and could reinvest the monies generated in player development back home.

Great idea

Would only need $10 million for a licence fee, $12 million a year revenue and another of the existing clubs to fold to create a spot.

Although given North Melbourne are doing it tough and talking about relocating to Queensland, maybe you could buy them.

Plus, player pool would be subject to draft by anyone