International Rules 2010/2011

[Jinxy]

What did it say?

[imtommygunn]

Yes, i say there would be a big difference in fitness levels. These guys are professional sports men who train every day (sometimes twice a day during pre-season). they are also 2 stone a man heavier and not to mention muscle mass and brute strength, the advantage they have over Ireland is unquestionable. Did you see that guy standing beside Stephen McDonnell for the toss at the start, he was nearly twice his size and he could shift so what chance has the Irish competing against these professional athletes.

I don't care that people say these guys haven't trained in ages, bullshit. The training is already in the legs and over the last 2 weeks the would have brushed up a bit on sharpness and ball work and they'd be ready. I agree the Irish are playing into their hands by slowing it down and taking too many marks but you lads have to remember the Aussies have learnt over the years to bring over better athletes (who are still strong as f**k) and we don't stand a chance anymore

So I assume this is going to put to bed the age old boast "sure GAA players are just as fit as the professionals so-and-so went to such-and-such soccer club on trial and they were saying he was fitter than the lot of them"

The fitness thing isn't a fair playing field against the aussies. The aussies pump iron, basically professionally, several days a week. GAA players do it in their spare time.

I don't believe for one second that at a cardio level the aussies are fitter - in fact I think they are a good bit behind. When you have big guys continually hitting you it wears you down. It's basically being hit by bigger men wearing the Irish guys down which doesn't make them look as fit.

[lawnseed]

What did it say?

you said just because gooch was no good at CR it didnt make him a bad footballer or words to that effect and keiran cunningham said just because gooch was no good at CR it didnt make him a bad footballer... uncanny! are you keiran cunningham?  

[Jinxy]

Nah.
That's a pretty general statement though.
I was going to ring them up looking for money!

[lawnseed]

Nah.
That's a pretty general statement though.
I was going to ring them up looking for money!

what about your gaa amateur ethos? all that money sure it would put you nuts

[GalwayBayBoy]

Yes, i say there would be a big difference in fitness levels. These guys are professional sports men who train every day (sometimes twice a day during pre-season). they are also 2 stone a man heavier and not to mention muscle mass and brute strength, the advantage they have over Ireland is unquestionable. Did you see that guy standing beside Stephen McDonnell for the toss at the start, he was nearly twice his size and he could shift so what chance has the Irish competing against these professional athletes.

I don't care that people say these guys haven't trained in ages, bullshit. The training is already in the legs and over the last 2 weeks the would have brushed up a bit on sharpness and ball work and they'd be ready. I agree the Irish are playing into their hands by slowing it down and taking too many marks but you lads have to remember the Aussies have learnt over the years to bring over better athletes (who are still strong as f**k) and we don't stand a chance anymore

So I assume this is going to put to bed the age old boast "sure GAA players are just as fit as the professionals so-and-so went to such-and-such soccer club on trial and they were saying he was fitter than the lot of them"

The fitness thing isn't a fair playing field against the aussies. The aussies pump iron, basically professionally, several days a week. GAA players do it in their spare time.

I don't believe for one second that at a cardio level the aussies are fitter - in fact I think they are a good bit behind.

Really? I very much doubt it to be honest.

AFL games last 20 minutes a quarter so a match is 80 minutes long. Not to mention the clock is stopped when the ball is dead or goes out of play meaning an average quarter could easily last anywhere up to 30 minutes in real time.

They are professionals at the end of the day. The likelihood is that they are fitter.

[lawnseed]

dont know about the aussies being that much fitter some of them complaining were about the legs being run off them.. in the upper body stakes they'd blow us away. the bigger you are it takes more energy to get you about maybe thats what happened in the last 10 munutes maybe they ran out of steam

[imtommygunn]

I'd say there is a lot more rotation in the aussie rules game.

I'd also say the average GAA player covers a lot more ground than an aussie rules one.

Plus you run in short bursts to get the ball. Then you either mark or get nailed so you can't really run with it.

All those being said I think we'd be fitter cardio wise. It's the hits that take the toll.

[Mike Sheehy]

I doubt it....I was reading where Tommy Walsh was saying the training runs were brutal and he actually dropped a stone in weight. So if he is aerobically challenged by it coming of the back of an AI winning level of fitness and being a young buck then I would guess that Aussie rules is tougher.

Now, if Gaelic was professional and Gaelic players trained every day then , yeah, you might find Gaelic is slightly more aerobically challenging...but I'd say there'd be very little in it.

Look, there is no shame in conceding the fitness advantage...in fact, if its not an advantage then you have to judge the result on skill/ability alone which paints an even more embarrasing picture for us.

[INDIANA]

I'd say there is a lot more rotation in the aussie rules game.

I'd also say the average GAA player covers a lot more ground than an aussie rules one.

Plus you run in short bursts to get the ball. Then you either mark or get nailed so you can't really run with it.

All those being said I think we'd be fitter cardio wise. It's the hits that take the toll.

Tommy we are miles off. Ive witnessed AFL  pre-seasons first hand for 2 days when in Oz. You'd expect our lads to be miles off- they are amateurs after all.

They are THE best athletes in the world. I was shocked how good they were.

Sydney Swans pre-season consisted of boxing and upper body weights in the morning, followed by a kip then an animal run straight up hill\mountain. The feckin gradient was like something out of the Tour De France. Followed by a ball session in the evening. All to repeat the dose the following day and the day after that.

There is just no comparison. The games are longer then ours as well and the pitch is bigger. They are professional athletes. Our lads cardio ratings would be at least a level below. And I would wager they are between 2-3 levels below elite AFL Players. Our lads dont get rest periods and have to work for a living.

Why are we so anxious to be professional like? We are not professionals. There is no shame in being an amateur athlete.

[HeaveHo]

I'd say there is a lot more rotation in the aussie rules game.

I'd also say the average GAA player covers a lot more ground than an aussie rules one.

Plus you run in short bursts to get the ball. Then you either mark or get nailed so you can't really run with it.

All those being said I think we'd be fitter cardio wise. It's the hits that take the toll.

Tommy we are miles off. Ive witnessed AFL  pre-seasons first hand for 2 days when in Oz. You'd expect our lads to be miles off- they are amateurs after all.

They are THE best athletes in the world. I was shocked how good they were.

Sydney Swans pre-season consisted of boxing and upper body weights in the morning, followed by a kip then an animal run straight up hill\mountain. The feckin gradient was like something out of the Tour De France. Followed by a ball session in the evening. All to repeat the dose the following day and the day after that.

There is just no comparison. The games are longer then ours as well and the pitch is bigger. They are professional athletes. Our lads cardio ratings would be at least a level below. And I would wager they are between 2-3 levels below elite AFL Players. Our lads dont get rest periods and have to work for a living.

Why are we so anxious to be professional like? We are not professionals. There is no shame in being an amateur athlete.

Sounds like a standard pre season Indiana - in the early 1990's a mate of mine did a preseason with Fitzroy (now merged with Brisbane) - one of their sessions involved doing 100 100's (100 runs of 100 metres). Apparently it wasn't a leisurely jog - it was all on the clock (set rest times). I don't think AFL clubs do that sort of gut busting stuff anymore - now it is a little more scientific. The athletes are fitter now (apparently).

It is hard to line up fitness levels all the same. Different games and all that stuff. Some AFL clubs use GPS plotters on certain players during the game - some midfielders cover up to 20 kilometres a game most of it at a decent pace. The number of interchanges in AFL games is now up to 150 per game. AFL clubs have worked out how long each player can sustain hard running - they drag them off when they think they have hit the wall and give them a spell. 

[JimStynes]

Aussie Rules players are the all round fittest athletes in the world in my opinion. I played a season of aussie rules for a club in perth and the running we had to do was unreal. The pitch is massive and the hits are brilliant but a shock to the system when you arent used to getting your arms pinned by your side and slammed to the ground. Also my first game was in 37 degrees heat  I found Gaelic is definitely more skillful and a bit more sprinting involved but aussie rules is 10 times rougher and twice as much running involved. 

A fella from the club played against Ireland the time Geraghty got sent home for racist comments and he was saying the thing he noticed about Gaelic footballers was that they were very quick off the mark and very sharpe at turning. He also said that when it came to the long running then the aussies blew them away as they are professional athletes. He did however say that it was obvious that the gaelic fellas were scared of them 

[Zapatista]

Aussie Rules players are the all round fittest athletes in the world in my opinion.

I think that might be pushing it a little.

[nrico2006]

I doubt it....I was reading where Tommy Walsh was saying the training runs were brutal and he actually dropped a stone in weight. So if he is aerobically challenged by it coming of the back of an AI winning level of fitness and being a young buck then I would guess that Aussie rules is tougher.

Now, if Gaelic was professional and Gaelic players trained every day then , yeah, you might find Gaelic is slightly more aerobically challenging...but I'd say there'd be very little in it.

Look, there is no shame in conceding the fitness advantage...in fact, if its not an advantage then you have to judge the result on skill/ability alone which paints an even more embarrasing picture for us.

I also recall Marty Clarke saying when he went undertook the pre-season training in Arizona that he was the quickest in the long distance time trials (can't remember if they were over 5 or 10k)

[JimStynes]

Aussie Rules players are the all round fittest athletes in the world in my opinion.

I think that might be pushing it a little.

I can't think of any other sport that has the all round fitness (strength, speed, stamina, agility etc) that is required for aussie rules.