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Paul Mannion at yesterday's press event before the 2018 Dublin county senior football final. Gary Carr/INPHO

'My initial thoughts were just that they were pretty bad ideas' - Dublin star on new proposed rule changes

Paul Mannion is against the new proposed plans to change the face of Gaelic football.

DUBLIN FOOTBALL STAR Paul Mannion isn’t a fan of the proposed new rule changes for Gaelic football.

The GAA’s standing committee on playing rules revealed earlier this month the five rules that they believe should be experimented with in the sport.

A restriction in handpasses, a plan to have all sidelines kicked forward, the introduction of an attacking mark, the implementation of a sin bin and a new kick-out rule involving zoning are to be considered.

But Mannion, a key figure again in Dublin’s All-Ireland success this year and a winner with his club Kilmacud Crokes in last Saturday’s county semi-final, is not impressed with what has been suggested.

He is aware that they are only proposals and is open to the idea of inside mark being trialled but overall feels they would change Gaelic football ‘in so many ways’ if implemented.

“I personally think they are a really bad idea, to be honest. I completely understand they are only proposals and just suggestions. So we won’t know until a few of them are trialled, but my initial thoughts were just that they were pretty bad ideas.

“I don’t know how much kind of thought went into them or was there any kind of consultation process, but I just don’t see what they are trying to achieve or what it’s going to do.

“It is going to change the game in so many ways – if they were all introduced. Now I know it’s unlikely they’d all be implemented but it would just be a completely different game if all those were brought in. Yeah, I’d be completely against them to be honest.”

The inside mark would be the proposed rule likely to impact most on Mannion’s style of play as a regular corner-forward in the Dublin team.

Paul Mannion lifts the Sam Maguire Paul Mannion lifts the Sam Maguire last month. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

“I suppose even when they were bringing the kickout mark in, when that was proposed I was kind of 50-50, I didn’t know what would work, what it would look like and then when it was trialled, I was like, ‘This actually works pretty well’.

“I thought that was a good one. I kind of feel similar about that one. That’s probably the only one that I’d be like maybe it might work. So I suppose seeing if it’s trialled and how it works out, it could turn out to be a good idea.

“It probably takes a little bit away from your preparations in the league if you know whatever happens, you’re going to be going back to the old rules. There’s nothing we can do about that, it’s out of our hands. We’ll just focus on what we can control. We’ll have plenty of time during the championship anyway to practise ourselves in our own training games so it won’t be a massive issue really.”

Mannion’s Dublin boss Jim Gavin has been a previous advocate for the sin bin but the attacker does not agree with the plan that is being floated.

Jim Gavin celebrates with Paul Mannion Jim Gavin celebrates with Paul Mannion after the victory over Tyrone. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

“You could have situations now where if a sin bin is brought in, teams will completely shut up shop for 10 minutes and do everything they can to just waste time and it’ll turn out to be worse again. It’s really difficult to see how these will work out unless they’re trialled.

“I wouldn’t agree with that now myself. Unless then they started giving out yellow cards more frequently, I’d imagine that would have to be the case if you’re going to need three yellow cards to get sent off. Again, it could just turn the game into complete chaos with fouling and this kind of stuff.

“I’m glad anyway at least that there’s going to be some thought around it before going to trial and if it’s a success then we can implement it. They’re only suggestions and proposals. They’re not wrong to try and improve the game. That’s what everyone wants. Everyone’s all for that, trying to improve it.”

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    Mute colin looby
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    Oct 16th 2018, 7:24 AM

    Obviously any Dublin player would hate new rules ,they have being winning everything ,but it would be great to restrict handpasses

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    Mute Theresonly1Liamo123
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    Oct 16th 2018, 7:39 AM

    @colin looby: The increase in hand passing is to try to negate the defensive system. If there was more space inside, it would leave more room for kick passes to be played in

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    Mute Camroc
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    Oct 16th 2018, 9:24 AM

    @colin looby: Handpasses aren’t the problem. It’s massed defences that are ruining the game. Addressing the symptom rather than the disease is a foolish approach. Mannion is correct – the proposed rules are a patchwork of different ideas with no clear aim. The rules committee need to identify what it is they are trying to change and work back from there.

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    Mute Conor Pocock
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    Oct 16th 2018, 12:12 PM

    @colin looby: how many times have the kickout rules changed since 2011? Dublin well able to adapt to the changes.

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Oct 16th 2018, 1:58 PM

    @colin looby: The speed at which Dublin adapt to new changes is directly proportionate to the crap storm that’s coming for their rivals. Joking aside however, some teams rely almost solely on the handpass and rarely if ever use the kick pass so personally I’d agree with the handpass change but with regard to the other changes proposed I’d agree with Paul Mannion.

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    Mute sligo man
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    Oct 16th 2018, 12:32 PM

    Rules committee missed two changes that would help eliminate the boring game that football has become
    1) not allowing the ball to be passed back over the midfield line when the attacking team is in their opponents half
    2) keeping a minimum of 4 players in both halves of the field at all times.

    Something has to be done before the game loses its appeal, it has become very boring and defensive and is often painful to watch

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    Mute Oliver O'Connor
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    Oct 16th 2018, 1:33 PM

    @sligo man: zoning is artificial and difficult to referee. One handpass would make packed defenses and opponents playing passes between the 45′s. Its too difficult to disposses handpassing play.

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    Mute Frank Cauldhame
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    Oct 16th 2018, 4:41 PM

    @sligo man: Great ideas but very difficult to officiate and could lead to bedlam if/when wrong calls are made.

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    Mute Isthatright
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    Oct 16th 2018, 1:21 PM

    Sin bin is crucial to cleaning up the game, and the fiasco that is the black card.

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    Mute john s
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    Oct 16th 2018, 3:47 PM

    @Isthatright: What would be better is if the referees would enforce the rules as written not how they see it. No consistency.

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    Mute Joe Kennedy
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    Oct 16th 2018, 5:43 PM

    @john s: true of all referees in all sports I think.

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    Mute Éamann Ó Duinn
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    Oct 16th 2018, 1:58 PM

    A better idea would have teams keep at least 3 players in the opposition half to stop them from playing the 1-14 or 1-13-1 formation.

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    Mute john s
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    Oct 16th 2018, 3:49 PM

    Unfortunately this dublin team would thrive under any rules or in any era. Sooner they all retire the better.

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    Mute Fitness Directory
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    Oct 16th 2018, 6:17 PM

    What do you think about some of these ideas.

    The player who is fouled must take the resulting free. If a player is injured and cannot take the kick, they must be substituted and the substitute must take the free. (This takes the pressure off individual players at all levels of the game and deters teams from having specialist kickers). It would also encourage all players to improve their kicking and shooting skills from a very young age).

    • 5 points awarded for a goal and two points awarded for a kick over the bar from outside the 45 metre line. 

    • No 3rd man tackle or surrounding a player who is in possession of the ball.

    • No playing the ball back into your own 45m area once the ball has cleared the zone.

    • 30 metre free for cynical play. Abolish the black card.

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    Mute Barry Lyons
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    Oct 16th 2018, 9:52 PM

    @Fitness Directory: on the player being fouled to take the free rule may see an increase in tactical fouling of a player who’s conversion percentage is low, like the fouling of a poor free throw shooter in basketball

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    Mute Frainc Ó Broin
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    Oct 19th 2018, 5:43 PM

    @Fitness Directory: you could always foul a poor free taker and concede less

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    Mute Scottyal
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    Oct 16th 2018, 2:17 PM

    Journal will you lot give us one free day from football The media and Rte seem to be stuck on football mode.

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    Mute Oliver O'Connor
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    Oct 16th 2018, 1:27 PM

    Quite a few players think the game is ok. But spectators are saying no with their falling attendance. Maybe current players are not the best judges.

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