Nixon: AFL coaches to join GAA county management teams

[haranguerer]

a lot of counties could get to all irelands very quickly if they had the right set up and dedication. that partially why kerry succeed.

Amazing!!! That's the secret... now why didn't some counties other than Kerry try that... 

Well, seeing as you know it all so, why are Cavan so shite ?

Ehhh, because they dont have the right setup and dedication?

Its true, every county probably does have 15 footballers who have the ability to win the All-Ireland.

What makes the difference is the rest of them. In somewhere like Kerry or Tyrone, there are many more than 15 footballers with that potential, so the best 15 cant rest on their laurels - competition for places means everyone has to work their arse off, with the result that they are a better team.

Confidence cant be underestimated either - Kerry for eg have been there and done that many times. Other counties, such as Sligo like you mention look at these all conquering kerry teams and make the assumption that they're just different. When you are playing club football in Kerry you come up against legends week in week out and realise they're just men, that gives you confidence in your own ability to push on and possibly challenge them for places on copunty teams.

Similarly with counties as a whole. I think this was most obvious when in the early 90s, or 2000s, teams from Ulster had a bit of an inferiority complex, they didnt believe they were good enough deep down,. But when Down won the AI in 91, other Ulster teams knew Down, and knew they weren't superhuman, so gained the confidence to push on and win AI's themselves.

Personally I think Ricky Nixon is talking shite. I think Aussie Rules coaches could add something - its never any harm to have fresh impetus, but to suggest that they could take over any county team and lead them to an AI is completely false, and a blatant insult to those already there.

Much of the whole Aussie Rules controversy is brought on by ourselves - similar to the way successful counties are elevated beyond deserved status by those less so, we do it ourselves with Aussie Rules. As soon as any GAA player goes to play Aussie rules, they are talked about in hushed tones. Fair enough, they are always those who have great Gaelic prowess, but I think we need to get rid of the inferiority complex we have when we compare ourselves to Aussie Rules. The only thing that makes aussie rules players 'better' than gaelic players, is the fact that they're professional, and so can dedicate more time and money to being 'better'.

I believe Gaelic football is a better game, with greater all round skill levels, and the new trend I'm seeing of many Gaelic players having replica Aussie rules tops pisses me off - its almost similar to local soccer players having replica premiership jerseys - the implication seems to be that this is what they aspire to  -if they train hard, and become the best of the best, they might get an aussie rules trial. The GAA need to work on dispelling this, because it would be a great shame, as well as massively damaging to the gaa if playing for your county becomes second best to getting an Aussie rules contract.

Bit off topic, but my thoughts on the whole thing...