Swans boss Andrew Ireland warns starting positions may lead to open footy — and blowouts

SYDNEY Swans boss and member of the AFL’s Competition Committee Andrew Ireland doesn’t mind the idea of starting positions if it leads to more open footy. But there might be a trade-off.

SYDNEY chief executive Andrew Ireland has backed the AFL’s likely introduction of starting points amid a third trial of the anti-density measure this week.

But the long-serving executive and member of the AFL’s Competition Committee has warned more open play might lead to a series of one-sided blowouts.

Ireland will remain on the AFL’s Competition Committee next year when he moves onto the Swans board and remains a Sydney consultant as Tom Harley becomes Sydney CEO.

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The AFL’s starting points trials have been wildly successful, with Luke Hodge, Patrick Dangerfield, Isaac Smith, Leigh Matthews and Leigh Montagna all backing their introduction.

The vision will be presented to the competition committee on July 26, after trials with Hawthorn, Brisbane and Fremantle.

Ireland said yesterday with up to a quarter of the AFL competition injured at one stage this year the league should keep interchange rates at 90.

He said a trial of zones would open the game up, but wonders if it will disadvantage poor teams who might be heavily scored against.

“Personally I am not against trialling at least starting positions. I am not so sure about (restrictions) after the game is in motion,” he said.

“I think you have got to work out what you really want and I guess the ideal thing is reasonably high scores but close games.

“If you open the game up a lot you will also widen the scores between better sides and not-so-good sides.

Sydney Swans CEO Andrew Ireland. Picture. Phil Hillyard

“I suspect closer games are what people like and that is probably good for TV as well.”

Ireland echoed the concerns of his coach John Longmire, who believes reduction of interchange would have a brutal effect on already taxed players.

“I am not a big advocate of cutting interchange. I saw a statistic on Fox Footy where 26 per cent of players were injured at one stage.

“The toll of the game is getting harder and hard and we know that our players are taking more time to recover and training less during the week.

“I am not sure putting them under more duress on the ground is the right thing.

“There isn’t any proof that cutting interchange will actually stop congestion or density around the ground.”

Sydney's Aliir Aliir is out of contract. Pic: Michael Klein

The Swans will continue to attempt to sign up their out-of-contract players, including Jake Lloyd, Sam Naismith and Aliir Aliir.

Heath Grundy’s manager Phil Mullins confirmed yesterday his client was keen to play on after strong form this year.

“I had a brief chat with Sydney three weeks ago and we said we would talk again over the next three weeks,” he said.

“He has indicated to me he is keen to go on again and he’s playing good footy. There is no rush.”

Mullins client Jarrad McVeigh is also keen to go on, with the Swans open to the prospect of him playing on or turning into a Sydney assistant coach.

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Originally published as Swans boss Andrew Ireland warns starting positions may lead to open footy — and blowouts