Mod Note Post #1 - The 2022 All Ireland Senior Football Championship.

The mark pre wants teams from defending too deep. Take it away and team set there defencive zones 10 Meyers close to goals. All three Kerry marks were superb last Sunday. All were above the head. Two were off the ground high fielding which was exactly the reason the mark was bought in. Previously the man winning the ball in such a situation was swamped when he landed on the ground. The third mark was a ball collected from overhead under pressure holding off a defender. If it's so easy why are other teams not found it. The rules are the same for both teams

Yeah, if I want to watch a game with the mark in it I'll stick some AFL on. Football is supposed to be a fluid game. If a forward claims a high ball they should bloody we'll be able to do something with it. Lest we forget tackling is still part of the game. What really happened is that lads were claiming high ball and immediately being fouled by the opposition. Unfortunately we seem to have referees that are one step away from the school of the blind and never gave them. So, in typical GAA fashion, rather than police the existing rules they created another one.

Do away with giving the award back at the hotel. Have it announced at the end of the match like any other game. Removes the politics from it and just give it to the best player on the day.

One with Gooch always sticks out to me not the obvious of the 2013 SF v Dublin. But it was another match. I can't even remember the opponent against Kerry. But I happened to be near the front in CP. Two big lumps of fellas were in front of him - Gooch on the ball. Right I said, let's see what he does here.

The Gooch feigned to go left, then right. Within a few seconds he had ran between to the two players with the ball.They were looking at each other as if to say, what happened?

I just started laughing. The only other player that has made me laugh like that (with a mixture of pure cheek and skill) was Diarmuid Connolly.

Clifford is very very good but he's not the best ever nor do I think he'll go on to be. He was a big strong minor who defences struggled against and he does kick some very good scores but skill wise he isn't the same level as Maurice Fitz and he's not as skillful as Walsh either. He's only just started getting realatively consistent on his weaker foot.

Walsh is faster, can switch from left to right without blemish and still maintain the same speed regardless of foot. The quality of scores he can kick off either foot Clifford can't do yet. Clifford has other attributes like his fielding but there has been plenty of players that can field and run up big scores. I'm not seeing anything from Clifford I haven't seen before. Walsh on the other hand put together the best 70mins I've ever seen on Sunday. It wasn't just volume, it was the quality. Even the frees were top drawer and off either foot. Yes he has been inconsistent in the past so he won't get the recognition but on skill alone he's as good as I've seen.

Yeah Clifford is not a jinky type of player. Like the likes of Canavan, Walsh, Connolly, Gooch, Donnellan. A fella who can go past a player with ease - close ball control. Those are the players the fans love and the neutrals want to see.

Clifford's game is more power based, fielding, and long range shots. I am not saying he is not a good player. But aesthetically he looks awkward. Now I know awkward looking players can be very effective like Michael Darragh McCauley. Or Johnny Doyle.

But I feel there is no stylishness to Clifford. His size pace and power, are his most utilised attributes. I think he won't go down as one of the greats mainly because of his injury record. I can't see him staying fit for a sustained period to be mentioned in the same breath as the greats of football.

Plus Clifford started so young and teams were so dependant on him. All those extra years on the legs will tell. It is not like he has that 'minding himself' slow side to side style Ciaran Kilkenny developed. Which has contributed to Kilkenny's longevity.

Please dont tell me you are comparing Clifford with MDMA.

"No stylishness to Clifford" - Christ almighty.

Matt O Connor was finished playing at 24 after a car accident. He had not reached his peak even. However he is rated as the greatest forward until Clifford came along.

This was not a sympathy vote. He was similar to Clifford. Big string powerful player that was very skillful. He has only one Celtic cross. He is especially remembered for his display in the 1980 AI semifinal which is rated as the greatest personal display in a football game

https://youtu.be/snlHd8e7uKs

Ya it's very easy to catch a ball. Before the mark the minute you caught a high ball by the time you came to ground you were swarmed by defenders and conceeded a free.

The mark stopped defenders from only having to defend 10-15 meters inside the 45. The mark forces them to defend the total area inside the 45 because they will conceed otherwise.

A year ago I would have changed the mark to having to catch the ball over your head. However again it would allow packing of defences to a certain extent. Remember the ball cannot touch the ground before it's caught and has to travel a minimum of 15 meters. Not as easy as it looks.

Only problem is many teams have turned the attacking mark into something it was not intended to be. Your team struggling can’t get momentum? The shrewd player kicks it backwards long to the centre back. Centre back hits it long to the midfielder. Midfielder hand in the air claims mark. Midfielder takes ages shaping up - hand in the air etc. Wastes three minutes hits the ball sideways or even backwards.

Suddenly the attacking mark becomes the de facto defensive mark. Even when a forward claims a ‘handy mark’ because he is struggling. It’s main impact is stopping play. A fella might as well wave to his family and friends in the crowd while he is at it. Maybe tie his laces as well, And it becomes a slow placed ball contest.

I was at the Mayo v Kerry match. And I can’t remember Mayo claiming many marks if any. Since Mayo were struggling for scores and could not get momentum in the game, I was amazed they did not exploit the very flawed advanced mark rule.