The GAA last night held a special meeting with former Irish managers of the International Rules games against Australia in a further effort to secure the future of the series. Ian O'Riordan reports.

Described as a "brainstorming session", the ideas and suggestions of the former managers could prove crucial when the GAA meet with the AFL in Dubai in May to formally agree on the revised format and rules of the series.

A meeting with AFL officials in Melbourne in January already agreed a number of measures to tighten disciplinary rules, but the former Irish managers were called in order to fully assess some of the general components of the game. The former managers of the recent series include Down's Pete McGrath, Kerry's John O'Keeffe, Donegal's Brian McEniff and Meath's Colm O'Rourke.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, McEniff outlined what he believed are still the main areas of concern - not least of all the breakdown in discipline that occurred in last October's series in Australia.

"There's no place in any sport for the intimidation that was shown in the direction of the Irish lads," he said, "and that's something that we'll have to review again. But then I have to say I was pleased with the standard of football from the Australians - there's no doubt about that. They were taking it much more seriously than they had in previous years, but I was disappointed that having won the match they went way over the top.

"I think it's just a just thing. They always have tried to physically and mentally intimidate our players and even as a manager I found that level of intimidation in existence as well. It's sad and it's something that has to be dealt with.

"I suppose our skill against the Aussies comes from the hip down while theirs is from the hip up. They will always win the physical battles no matter how strong a side that we bring to Australia. They are fit enough and good enough ball players to be able to compete with us without having to resort to the type of tactics that we saw last year."

McEniff could be described as one of the true experts of the game, having played against the Australians with a New York team as far back as 1975, and also managing the Ulster teams in 1984 and 1986 that also played against them. He also understands some of the heavy criticisms - including calls for abandoning the game - that followed the events in Australia last October.

Yet the former Donegal manager was clear on where the games needs to be cleared up: "My only great difficulty is that the players must be penalised, even within their own game. It mightn't mean that much to them at international level but if it passed onto the club scene it would make a difference.

"I also think the sin bin for a yellow card and no replacement for a red card is the way to go. Overall I would love to see the series survive but it has to be tidied up. There's no room for the other stuff in any sport, never mind a sport where it's amateurs against professionals."

The main provision already agreed between the GAA and the AFL would see any player receiving a red card dismissed from play, with his team reduced to 14 on the field for the rest of the match. His team would also concede a penalty, worth six points if converted.

Furthermore, any player guilty of a yellow-card offence will be sent off for 15 minutes, with a replacement allowed, and no penalty kick. Any player receiving two yellow cards will be sent off for the rest of the game with no replacement.

Assuming formal agreement can be reached in May, the new rules would come into effect for the first of this year's series, set for October 28th/29th in Galway's Pearse Stadium, with the second Test a week later in Croke Park. The other main matter to be decided is who will take over from Pete McGrath as Irish manager, a decision which rests with incoming GAA president Nickey Brennan.

"I think there are a lot of right men out there," added McEniff, "let's be fair about it. There's John O'Mahony, Seán Boylan and Mick O'Dwyer, although he's involved with Laois. I'm quite sorry that Mick has never been involved because he has done wonders for the GAA. Hopefully he will get a chance further down the line and an opportunity will arise. But any of those men would fill the role."

In a related matter, former Laois underage star Colm Begley has made his AFL debut in record time, lining out in just his third game in the code in the Brisbane Lions' NAB quarter-final defeat to Melbourne.

He picked up six possessions and one mark against a strong Demons team that ran out 11-point winners at Melbourne's Telstra Dome.