More games over a shorter period of time sounds like an issue for player welfare but when those proposals are coming from the players representative body it is worth a close analysis.
The Gaelic Players Association has submitted proposals to Croke Park over a future structure of the inter county and club Gaelic football season which is the most detailed to date of numerous proposals put forward across various media.
“How the consultation process goes now through the different units of the GAA will be interesting to watch.”
It means a season that will start in early February and conclude with the All Ireland Final on the first rather than the third Sunday in September. Depending on reaction from the authorities, and soundings from broadcasters and sponsors, it could be in place as early as 2017.
The basic elements are that the Allianz National League, in four divisions would run through February and March with winners determined only by the league position and no play offs.
Seeding
This would then run into the Provincial Championships played over April and May with presumably a maximum two week break between games. This would be a stand alone competition with the winners of each guaranteed first seeding in a new All Ireland series that has much to commend it.
Eight groups of four teams, seeded on League and Provincial performance would play a round robin series guaranteeing three games for every county and at least one against the top teams at the home of the weaker counties.
“Over recent years we have spoken to many county sponsors who felt that their own return from sponsorship was limited.”
The winner from each group goes onto a final round of 16 where, in an open draw they will meet a team from a preliminary round which has pitched the team that come secondhand third in the groups against each other, again in an open draw format.
There is a neat structure to it and a consistency of understanding over when games will be played that is lacking in the current ‘back door’ system of qualifiers. Consistency is good for broadcasters and other media in building narrative. The expanded number of games and the prospect of Leitrim against Dublin in Carrick or Wicklow against Kerry in Aughrim will also appeal to sponsors at Championship and County level where there will be more opportunity for more local activation.
Club season
The proposal suggests that the club season will be accommodated through designated weekends through the season which sounds OK on paper but would have to be immune from inter county managers holding back players. That might not be so easy ahead of a big game.
There is only one mention of Hurling with the All Ireland Final set for August 28th. That could yet prove a problem as both Series would need to be accommodated for all the stakeholders involved at Championship level.
Over recent years we have spoken to many county sponsors who felt that their own return from sponsorship was limited. Home games in the League or Championship tended to be played out in front of a known audience while the big games when they came at Croke Park tended to be blocked out by Championship sponsors leaving little room for imaginative activation.
Most accepted that this was what they got but most also felt that the reality did not live up to the potential when it cam to local support. If that message got through to Provincial and County Boards then this proposal could have a greater chance of success.
TV Deal
Next year will be the third in the existing three year deal on TV and media rights. 2017 is therefore more important in terms of providing a clearly laid out and easily understood structure.
One thing it doesn’t accommodate is room for replays with drawn games being settled by a series of 45 metre frees. Those replays have lifted previous seasons in terms of excitement, revenue through the gate and additional opportunity for media and sponsors. They can never be relied upon though and in terms of the players, ending a game on the day is a better option.
The GPA has said that is not a silver bullet, and that it is intended to start a genuine debate rather than be insisted upon by those who are pulling on the jersey.
How the consultation process goes now through the different units of the GAA will be interesting to watch. It shouldn’t be allowed to live or die by commentary in the media and there is a good starting point in that there does appear a genuine consensus among the players.
Image credit: Matt Browne / Sportsfile
