Cork manager John Cleary has become one of the first inter-county GAA managers to really share his views on the new rule proposals by Jim Gavin and his taskforce.
So far there are seven key proposals that could see the game look quite different in 2025, and all in an effort to. try and make Gaelic football a more entertaining spectacle to watch.
Changes such as only having one player from each team in for the throw-in, or two points for a score outside of the scoring the arc, are being considered, but Cleary thinks that something definitely needs to change.
“You hear from spectators that are going to matches all the time, they are not happy with the defensive, 15-men behind the ball. They don’t think it’s a great spectacle,” Cleary told The Irish Examiner.
“And even what people say to me about the contrast between the All-Ireland hurling and football final this year. The hurling final was up and down the field, it was chaos. The football final was so structured and was played at either 45. And then the scarcity of scores, it was 1-11 to 0-13. Attacking football excites people."
In terms of freeing up space, and making the game more open, Cleary is definitely a fan of keeping three players up front, and preventing them from tracking back over a certain point.
When you're trying to play attacking football and there’s 15 planked inside the 45, it becomes a game of chess and how you can eke out (a gap).
“Sometimes you go through and the referee will give you a free, but in a lot of cases, they give the free out when a player gets swallowed. I don't think it is nice to watch, or nice to coach, or nice to play in.
“That rule will help in that regard, I think that is the most important rule.
READ NOW: It Appears Derry Have Finally Identified The Successor To Mickey Harte
READ NOW: Four County Champions Knocked Out On Dramatic Day Of Club Action
Despite The Rebels' boss being in favour of the proposal, he does share some concern regarding the policing around that rule, especially at the lower levels.
"Whether that will be brought in or not, I am not so sure because of the practicalities and who looks at it.
“If the referee is down the field, how can he be looking at the half-way line? Is it the linesman that does it? It probably could be done all right at inter-county level, but whether it is a rule for club level, I am not so sure.”
There is one new rule suggestion in particular that excites Cleary more than any other, and is a no-brainer as far as he is concerned.
“The solo and go from a free will definitely quicken up the game," added Cleary.
"It won't be as easy for defences to set up when a guy can go straight away and he can kick it in without players stopping him and stopping the movement.”
