Mark, what is it good for....

Absolutely nothing.

Of all the things wrong with the GAA this is what was brought in this year. Lads catching the ball and the ref blows his whistle, players and supporters look at each other wondering what was that for before realising what has just happened.

On at least two occasions a player caught the ball and everyone stopped at the whistle thinking there was a free. One Longford player even started to give the ref a bit of backchat before realising he had just made a mark.

It didn't speed the game up or make any difference whatsoever in my eyes. Can't see it being around to long.

Satisfied some touchy pundits though who find aspects to complain about that are nowhere near the actual problem with the sport so they've an agenda to keep them relevant over the summer months.

Plenty of touchy pundits/journos out there

Rex wrote:

Absolutely nothing.

Of all the things wrong with the GAA this is what was brought in this year. Lads catching the ball and the ref blows his whistle, players and supporters look at each other wondering what was that for before realising what has just happened.

On at least two occasions a player caught the ball and everyone stopped at the whistle thinking there was a free. One Longford player even started to give the ref a bit of backchat before realising he had just made a mark.

It didn't speed the game up or make any difference whatsoever in my eyes. Can't see it being around to long.

+1

I thought it was a decent game for this time of the year. The new lads should up very well especially the 3 Sarsfields boys which leaves 1 less thing for people to moan about. Early days yet.

Rex wrote:

Absolutely nothing.

Of all the things wrong with the GAA this is what was brought in this year. Lads catching the ball and the ref blows his whistle, players and supporters look at each other wondering what was that for before realising what has just happened.

On at least two occasions a player caught the ball and everyone stopped at the whistle thinking there was a free. One Longford player even started to give the ref a bit of backchat before realising he had just made a mark.

It didn't speed the game up or make any difference whatsoever in my eyes. Can't see it being around to long.

So after 70mins of football in a half-competitive game in January, we should scrap it?

At least give it until next Sunday!

Didn't say to scrap it, just that I don't think it will last long.

I was discussing the mark over the weekend and what we came up was if the mark is here to stay then all kickouts should be kicked long or over the 50 yard line and have no short kick outs then thats where the mark would be more of an attractive option but that wont happen as it would feck up the Dubs.

steviegenius wrote:

I was discussing the mark over the weekend and what we came up was if the mark is here to stay then all kickouts should be kicked long or over the 50 yard line and have no short kick outs then thats where the mark would be more of an attractive option but that wont happen as it would feck up the Dubs.

Correct, the short kickout is the problem. It guarentees 6-7 handpasses to get to the same area as a mark would achieve. They should have been brave enough to insist that all kickouts have to go beyond the 45m line and all frees at least 20m.
We would have a far better game to watch as a result.

murof wrote:

steviegenius wrote:

I was discussing the mark over the weekend and what we came up was if the mark is here to stay then all kickouts should be kicked long or over the 50 yard line and have no short kick outs then thats where the mark would be more of an attractive option but that wont happen as it would feck up the Dubs.

Correct, the short kickout is the problem. It guarentees 6-7 handpasses to get to the same area as a mark would achieve. They should have been brave enough to insist that all kickouts have to go beyond the 45m line and all frees at least 20m.
We would have a far better game to watch as a result.

Spot on. I'm of an age where I remember the back-pass rule being changed in soccer and it revolutionised the game. My team Leeds were league champions at the time (I know.. hard to believe), and the first season of the back-pass rule they finished 17th as they just couldn't cope. Changing the kick out rule would be the equivalent in gaelic football but I doubt anyone would have the balls.

I think that if the short kick out was banned teams would just withdraw forwards outside the 45 which will just kill any space that might be available. You might make a rule requiring all forwards or 4/5 to stay in the attacking 45 but is that workable? From what I've seen the mark will have very little bearing on the game but should reward a clean catch.