Jim Gavin's Taskforce to try and make the game of Gaelic football a more entertaining spectacle is in full flow at the moment.
The Rules Committee are working hard on introducing new changes to the game to try and make it as watchable as possible.
We are all aware of the changes that are being proposed, such as the idea of preventing the goalkeeper going past the 65, a scoring arc on the 45m line which would count for two points if you convert from outside it, and a goal counting as four points instead of three.
However, speaking on the latest episode of the Free State Podcast, Joe Brolly insists that they are not addressing the real problem in Gaelic football.
A few weeks ago, an u14 county final in Derry was taking place between Lissan and Watty Graham's Glen, and the Lissan's star forward was double marked by two defenders for the whole game.
Tommy Loughran, or the 'coal man's son' as Brolly refers to him as, had to contend with being tightly marked everywhere he went by two players, preventing him from enjoying an open game of football.
Dion has a more radical solution and announces also that he has entered the c-suite.
What is more rewarding? Winning or glory? If you are Donald Trump or the modern GAA coach then nothing matters except winning. But can we as Trump said, get tired of winning? Is the story of pic.twitter.com/baItjvfJcI
— Free State with Joe Brolly & Dion Fanning (@freestateirl) September 5, 2024
This is the second Rules Committee, and just like the first one, they are providing answers to the wrong questions.
"The right question is, how do we prevent little Tommy Loughran, the coal man's son, from being double marked?
"That is the question that the rules committee should be concentrating on since in Gaelic football this is the fundamental problem.
"What is ruining the spectacle is sweeping, and zonal defending. Jimmy McGuinness started with that back four situation.
"It began with Mark McHugh, Martin McHugh's young fella, onto the feet of the opposing full forward, whoever that might be, killing the quick ball into the danger area.
"So that idea of a player looking up, moving the ball quickly into the full forward line - it just died. It worked, Mark McHugh is only 5'6 but Kerry can't get the ball into Colm Cooper."
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When pushed on why the current rule proposals wouldn't help fix any of these issues, the Derry legend breaks down his assessment.
"They're considering a rule which forces three players, including the goalkeeper, inside their 65, but that does nothing to prevent the sweeper, the zonal defending or double-marking.
"The sweeper will still be there and the opposing team will still be able to retreat into their zonal formation, which is what they do at the moment, they go forward and they drop back.
"It's not going to have any impact whatsoever on the fundamental problem which is killing the game and stifling the creative forwards."
Brolly believes that the scoring arc on the 45 isn't the solution either, and insists that it won't change the issues that Gaelic football faces today.
"Jim Gavin's idea, is two points for a point from a 40m arc. So you are rewarded for shooting outside the 45m area and his idea is that it will force out the blanket defence, and leave gaps in behind.
"It's Pie in the Sky, Armagh form up inside the 45, just along that 45 area, and the most obvious problem with it is if it was that easy to kick points outside the 45 then they would have been doing it already."
Whether you agree with the rule changes or not, it is at least positive to see some action being taken to address certain areas in the sport, but Brolly isn't as optimistic.
