Ciaran Whelan believes that Gaelic football is broken. With blanket defences increasingly in vogue, the entertainment value of the sport is suffering and action from the GAA is necessary. The former Dublin footballer says that ideas to improve the game need to be trialled.
In a preview for the Championship, Des Cahill and Whelan spoke about some changes which could ameliorate the situation Gaelic football finds itself in.
1. Move to a 13-a-side game. Whelan views this as the easiest way to create space on the pitch.
2. Kick outs have to go 45 metres. This would bring make the midfield a more important part of the game.
3. Trial awarding two points for long range scores.
Whelan is not a fan of limiting the number of consecutive hand passes. He thinks this would cause panic leading to an increased number of misplaced foot passes. He also believes that introducing the mark would slow the game down.
4. Introduce a new format for the Championship as the current situation is stale and the real action does not begin until August. A two-tier structure should be looked at.
