Oval Ball For International Rules

Xavi6

From http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport -

Demetriou demands oval ball for International Rules

Mark Robinson | April 01, 2008 12:00am

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has said today that the resumption of the International Rules series between Australia and Ireland will not be given the go ahead unless the game adopts an oval ball.

Speaking at a press conference in Melbourne, Mr. Demetriou said that the Irish had benefitted greatly from using their code’s ball of choice.

“The Irish have always had an advantage when it comes to the ball used in the series,” he said.

“The skills required to kick a round ball are completely different to those which our players use with the oval ball and I feel it is time we were given the opportunity to show our skills on the international stage.”

The Irish counties, appalled by the violence of the 2005 and 2006 series, have given the green light for clashes with Australia to resume.

At least 24 of 32 counties backed the revival of the series at a St Patrick's Day meeting of the Gaelic Athletic Association's central council, although this new demand from the AFL may require them to hold further talks.

Relations between the Irish and the AFL broke down after a rugged second Test at Dublin's Croke Park in 2006.

The Irish suspended their involvement and the concept looked likely to remain in the deep freeze until a meeting of the GAA and AFL in Dubai in February.

Both bodies agreed in-principle to a peace document that included ramped up penalties for poor on-field discipline.

Well I have to say it'd be interesting to see how the Irish lads get on kicking one of the eggs. Any thoughts?

Skittlebrau

I really hope that's an April Fool's joke. We would get destroyed.

Once the Aussie's stopped limiting themselves to their All Star team for players and picked smaller quicker players that were more suited to the game, they ran rings around us.

uptherebels

Xavi6 wrote: »

From http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport -



Well I have to say it'd be interesting to see how the Irish lads get on kicking one of the eggs. Any thoughts?

I think that its a bit late to go changing the ball.I mean by this stage it is of my opinion that the majority of the australlians can kick a round ball just as good as the irish lads.
As for saying that the irish have a unfair advantage because of the shape of the ball thats like the irish turning around and saying that the australlians have an unfair advantage because they can tackle better than us.

Xavi6

uptherebels wrote: »

I think that its a bit late to go changing the ball. I mean by this stage it is of my opinion that the majority of the australlians can kick a round ball just as good as the irish lads.
As for saying that the irish have a unfair advantage because of the shape of the ball thats like the irish turning around and saying that the australlians have an unfair advantage because they can tackle better than us.

And I think it's a bit late to be falling for April Fool's jokes

uptherebels

Xavi6 wrote: »

And I think it's a bit late to be falling for April Fool's jokes

well im not the brightest of people

Xavi6

uptherebels wrote: »

well im not the brightest of people

Ah it's ok. Some fell for it in the GAA forum. Plus it's a pretty well constructed press release if I do say so myself!

uptherebels

Xavi6 wrote: »

Ah it's ok. Some fell for it in the GAA forum. Plus it's a pretty well constructed press release if I do say so myself!

ya it had me going.If only I hadnt been too lazy to check the link

Xavi6

uptherebels wrote: »

ya it had me going.If only I hadnt been too lazy to check the link

I had that kinda covered too. I just linked to the main sports page, not just an article so I had visions of people searching the sports section and getting pissed off that the couldn't find the article!