The Football Review Committee (FRC) has a wealth of data from the first two rounds of the Allianz Football League. With many rule changes recently implemented, the FRC is evaluating their impact and considering potential adjustments. The two-point system and the number of allowed substitutions are two areas under scrutiny.
After two rounds of the Allianz Football League and 29 games, the Football Review Committee (FRC) now has a considerable amount of data to analyze. Until recently, Jim Gavin and his team could only rely on a limited number of 'sandbox' games, the interprovincial series from last October, and anecdotal evidence from challenge matches preceding the League restart. This was due to the perplexing decision to eliminate pre-season competitions this year.
In December, Gavin announced the formation of a Data Research Unit to investigate the impact of rule changes on the game. The unit aims to gather GPS data from counties to assess the altered physical demands on players and analyze statistics related to the number of kickpasses, handpasses, etc., in the new game format. Gavin, speaking days before Christmas, revealed that the data collected would be anonymized, stating, 'I won’t know who it is, it simply goes into what’s called a data controller in the games intelligence unit. They then crunch the figures. We’ll know it’s a Division Three team but we won’t know what team it is.' However, the practicality of this approach raises questions. Can you imagine Jim McGuinness, for instance, readily sharing the GPS readings from Donegal’s victory over Dublin last Saturday? When questioned about the increased demands on his players and advocating for an increase in substitutions to six, McGuinness responded, 'That’s what you would call family business.' It was initially suggested that this data would be released weekly, but there has been no such publication so far. This lack of transparency is understandable given the generally positive reception of the new rules, although many remain cautious about making definitive judgments until a larger sample size of games is analyzed. It's crucial to temper enthusiasm with a dose of realism. Sunday's thrilling Derry-Kerry game stood in stark contrast to the uneventful encounter between the two counties in last year's All-Ireland quarter-final. Does anyone genuinely believe that, under any set of rules, a repeat of Sunday's spectacle would occur if they met again in a knockout Championship game later in the year at Croke Park? The League frequently produces unpredictable and exciting games that rarely replicate when the stakes are significantly higher.Therefore, tinkering with and refining the rules is inevitable. With two rounds of the League complete, where might Gavin and his team focus their attention? One possibility is reconsidering the two-point scoring system. Following the interprovincial games last October, the four-point goal was quickly abandoned. Gavin explained that the eight-point swing that could result from a couple of early goals in games between counties of varying strengths would be too demoralizing for the underdog. However, the current two-point system is proving problematic even in top-tier matchups. Sunday's Mayo-Galway game served as a prime example. Mayo trailed by a single point at halftime despite scoring just one two-pointer while playing with the wind advantage. Galway then responded with three two-pointers in the first nine minutes of the second half, establishing a commanding lead and ultimately winning comfortably.The two-point reward for a score from 40 meters away, particularly in the context of a goal still being worth three points, seems excessive. Mayo manager Kevin McStay echoed this sentiment, stating that a two-point reward for a free from outside the 40-meter arc is excessive, especially with a tailwind, as it's not a particularly difficult feat. However, eliminating the two-point free would likely encourage more cynicism. Players could be fouled deliberately, knowing that the resultant free would only be worth one point.The sight of players bringing the ball outside the arc to kick a free for an offense committed inside is jarring and may not have a sustainable future, regardless of the fate of the two-pointer itself. In theory, rule changes can be implemented at any time between now and the end of the Championship. However, if the FRC were to modify the two-point rule now, it would undoubtedly disrupt the scoring differential in the League, a competition that determines which counties compete in the All-Ireland series or the Tailteann Cup come summer. Another possible area of focus is increasing the number of substitutes. This proposal was floated last year but ultimately did not materialize. However, rival managers McGuinness and Dessie Farrell united in their call for it during Dublin's defeat to Donegal on Saturday night. Farrell made this plea in the context of three of his players retiring with hamstring injuries in the first half, suggesting that this new iteration of Gaelic football demands more high-speed running.
Gaelic Football Allianz Football League Football Review Committee Rule Changes Two-Point System Substitutions
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