PLAYERS are still trying to “wash out of a lifetime of habit” as they get to grips with Gaelic football’s new rules, according to Mattie Donnelly.
It has been tougher still on the Tyrone stalwart, who only returned to the county fold a fortnight ago before embarking on a crash course in the practicalities of how the rule enhancements would play out.
“There’s much learning as a bloody module in college…”
Compared to some of the other fare on offer during the opening weekend of the National League, Saturday’s showdown with Sperrin rivals Derry didn’t throw up a huge window into what the future could look like – with Tyrone’s runners from deep doing the damage as they got off to a winning start.
Malachy O’Rourke’s hands-on role with the Football Review Committee might have expedited the Red Hands’ understanding coming into Saturday’s game at O’Neills Healy Park on Saturday night, but Donnelly feels there is still a lot to get to grips with.
“You’re trying to wash out a lifetime of habit for a lot of men, so there is a lot of getting used to.
“But, at the same time, a lot of the training at that level is conditioned games anyway, and it’s just one massive conditioned game, so if boys do their homework and they talk each other through it, you’ll be alright.
“I suppose the big one is dissent. Like, a lot of the time it is hard to get out of the road in some of those occasions, you are at the ref’s discretion there so you are always waiting a bit nervous thinking ‘have I been nabbed here?’
“We’ve adapted alright to it, but it’s going to be a work in progress. There’s a lot of settling in and sorting out to do yet with teams and how they’re going to approach these new rules; that’s going to be the interesting thing over the next few weeks.
“We are conditioned to be careful with our shots, and to go from your percentage areas, as the saying goes, so that’s not going to change overnight.
“Obviously the incentive with the two points is there, which makes it more appetising for boys to take on, but at the same time good decisions are still going to be key and come up trumps in this game, regardless of the new rules.
“You are very much back to school again, you are quizzing and querying all the rules, any loopholes, ‘what happens if this happens’ sort of stuff… it’s the first competitive game of the year so there’s always going to be that element of getting up to speed.”
There is an element of uncertainty, too.
FRC chairman Jim Gavin has stated that tweaks can be made as the outworkings of the new rules become clear, while only time will tell if all, some or none are here to stay on a permanent basis – with the opening weekend already throwing up plenty of debate.
“Everyone involved - the supporters, players - will have to be patient,” said Donnelly.
“All of this could change and by the end of the League, which is a review point, so it is hard to get too tied to them either.
“I wouldn’t say the uncertainty is weighing on anyone, it is more that there is a chance it could change… we don’t know how many are going to stay.
“I am interested in sitting back and watching the other games and see how they unfold over the weeks, but I think everyone has to be patient in how it evolves and be pragmatic too that there may be changes here and there.
“The right heads were around it; in Jim Gavin, you could not get a better man overseeing it, and he was well assisted by the people around him, so you trust those boys.”
And, after an underwhelming period since 2021′s All-Ireland win, these are exciting times for the Red Hands under new boss O’Rourke – with Donnelly happy to come back for more.
“I am at that stage now that there is a bit of thinking nearly every year over the last few years, and it was no different this year.
“I am obviously 34 now and I had to see what way the body was, how I was work-wise and then obviously stuff at home in Trillick as well, so there was a lot to think about.
“In fairness to Malachy and the boys, they were so easy to work with in that regard and I was happy to come back in and give it a go.”
