BLUE MURDER

Brogan: The best Tyrone can hope for is a close game, Dublin have scoring down to a fine art..

ALAN BROGAN says the appliance of science keeps Dublin striving towards perfection – but warns the GAA must change the rules to revive the game.

Brogan (below) has admired how Jim Gavin has changed his side’s attacking approach so that halfchances are regularly passed up and patience is employed to work to right opening.

That tactic has seen the Blues’ game evolve from the swashbuckling style that took the country by storm in 2013. While not as easy on the eye, there’s more of a ruthless element to the four-in-a-row chasing Dubs’ game.

“There are guys well capable of having a shot off the outside of the foot from underneath the Hogan stand,” said Brogan.

“But they’re experienced enough now to know that it’s just not the percentage shot that they need.

“It’s about percentages. Dublin obviously have done their homework. And if 90 per cent of the scores come from inside that arc around the D, then it’s, ‘Why are we shooting from outside that?’.

“When you’re looking at your score conversion rates, that’s a stat up on the board and you’re trying to drive that up all the time.

“That’s how scientific it’s gone. So if it’s 70 per cent this week, you’re looking to beat that next week.

“It’s not how Jim measures it, it’s how they measure it themselves. Jim doesn’t rule with an iron fist at all – a lot of this is decided by the lads.

“They’re kind of driving the standards themselves.”

Brogan, whose Dubs career ended with All-ireland final success in 2015, believes Dublin have been working incessantly on the tactic over the last few years.

“They’re happy to wait until they get somebody free in that position. “They nearly have it perfected to a fine art now. They’re all so comfortable on the ball that they’re happy to take a bounce or a solo, work it back around the other way, wait until somebody becomes free.

“Under Jim Gavin, you better make sure you score if you’re not inside in the scoring zone.”

A more calculated approach can lead to impatience in the stands and on Hill 16 – but Brogan feels that the emphasis on defence from rival teams has forced the change. In that regard he would love to see Diarmuid Connolly facing Tyrone.

“His presence will be missed,” Brogan said. “Dublin could still win without him, it’s just a pity – he’s maybe the one guy that still isn’t afraid to try the outrageous and will have that go from anywhere.

“A bit of the flair has gone out of it. That’s a result of what

Dublin are up against.

“Jim’s first preference would be to play a fast, attacking, foot-passing game. With the way teams set up against them, you just can’t do that anymore. They’ve had to revert to this slow hand-passing game, more like a basketball set-up where they’re looking for gaps.

“But if they see their opportunity for a goal chance, they’re always encouraged to go after it.”

Tipping Dublin to win, Brogan added: “The best we can hope for is a close, competitive game. It’s going to be cagey. Even if Tyrone do come after the kick-outs, there’ll be a lot of men behind the ball.

“Until we see a couple of rule changes the game’s going to continue on the path it’s on.

“Even a good All-ireland final will only paper over some of the cracks.

“There’s no question the hurling games have been a lot more exciting. It’s a different game but we need to look at rule changes to free up some space in the forward line, or even to reward teams for kick-passing – which is nearly going out of the game.”