Flynn favours a sixth replacement

RTÉ GAA analysts Paul Flynn and Tomás Ó Sé have both backed Jim McGuinness's call for football teams to be allowed to make six substitutions.

Speaking after Saturday evening’s Division 1 win over Dublin, the Tir Chonaill boss said that the taxing nature of the new rule enhancements means that an extra body is necessary to reduce the risk of injury.

"I feel for Dublin, they lost three players with hamstrings. I think that's definitely something that has to be looked at," McGuinness said.

"Peadar Mogan would be one of our fitter lads and he was really struggling at the end and we had the five subs on and we couldn't get him off.

"In the first document the FRC [Football Review Committee] put out, there were six subs and I saw that and thought that would be good and would take a bit of pressure off."

'He's got access to the data, he's seen the metrics' - the panel agree with Jim McGuinness's proposal that more subs should be allowed under the new rules#RTEgaa

📺 Watch League Sunday on RTÉ2 & RTÉplayer pic.twitter.com/OAozraYN0d — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) February 2, 2025

Speaking on Allianz League Sunday, McGuinness’s suggestion had support from both former players in the studio.

"He’s got access to the data, he’s seen the metrics and you have to trust that’s what it’s telling him," Flynn said of the Donegal manager’s comments.

"Other managers came out in support of it. I don’t think anyone’s going to argue if there’s an extra sub, that’s a consequence of this increased intensity.

"If you’re thinking about Division 1 teams, Division 2 teams, they’re not going to argue with it because they’ve a strong enough squad to bring guys in and, if required, they can bring someone back in if needed.

"The thing I’d say, any decision that is made will be grounded in data and insights that the FRC and the games intelligence unit gather.

"Managers will come out every week and they’ll have something different that they’re trying to lobby for softly but this one in particular, when it’s player welfare related, it’s an easy one."

Tomás Ó Sé had a similar view – and suggested that an extra change may not go far enough.

"I think it’s a no-brainer...I would even say six, seven subs."

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