Short games a chance in 2012

[tiger101]

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou has confirmed the length of games could be shortened as early as next year, with the League to look closely at reducing minutes played over the off-season.

The issue again came to light this week with Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse claiming long games and the structure of the draw were to blame for recent blowout results.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/120819/default.aspx

Surely cutting game time lengths wasn't the first idea they've looked at for making games more competitive.

[Penelope]

it would be like playing best of three sets in a grand slam.

[mightytiges]

We use to have 25 minute quarters plus time on but the AFL cut it back when quarters were ending up going for 35 mins as footy in the 80s/early 90s(?) was high scoring. So the AFL changed it to 20 minute quarters plus time on but added time on for out of bounds and ball-ups. With the increasing number of stoppages in modern footy it's bumped up the length of some quarters again out to 35 mins again. Instead of shorting the quarters again which will only increase the speed of the game which the AFL said it wanted to reduce, the AFL should just reduce the number of players onfield to say 16. Not only will it open up play and reduce the number of stoppages but the overall standard will increase as there'll be less 'bottom 6' players making up the number. In fact reducing the 18 teams to 16 onfield would leave identical player numbers to what we had previously with 16 teams and 18 onfield.

[wayne]

Port Adelaide didn't lose by 165 in the last 10 minutes of the game.

It's not going to stop blowouts.

[mightytiges]

Port Adelaide didn't lose by 165 in the last 10 minutes of the game.

It's not going to stop blowouts.

I think their argument is experienced sides with mature bodies can maintain the higher intensity throughout the whole length of each quarter and can pile on red-time goals in time-on as younger sides tire. You're right though wayne - shorter quarters wouldn't have helped Port except the final blowout margin may have been a 20 goal loss rather than 30 goals if quarters were shorter.

[tiger101]

They'll probably just make it that there's no time on for the first 15 minutes of a quarter.
I can't see them changing it up to much.

[mightytiges]

They'll probably just make it that there's no time on for the first 15 minutes of a quarter.
I can't see them changing it up to much.

Yep you'll probably be right there tiger101. Didn't the AFL trial 17.5 minute quarters plus time-on in the NAB Cup in recent years?

[one-eyed]

AFL quarters may be cut

    Mike Sheahan
    From: Herald Sun
    September 09, 2011

ANDREW Demetriou said the AFL season would remain at 22 games for the foreseeable future, but flagged the possibility that games would be shorter next season.

"We all think the game's too long," the AFL's chief executive said.

"There's no doubt with the stoppages, with what is extra time, lots of boundary throw-ins because teams play down the line, you can't have 30-35 minute quarters.

"It's something that Adrian (football operations manager Adrian Anderson) and the laws committee is looking at. About how can we reduce the time."

The laws of Australian football say a match shall be played for a period of four 20-minute periods of actual playing time. Stoppages for extra time can stretch quarters to more than 30 minutes.

Demetriou said the AFL competition would revert to a 22-round season next year, with one split round.

"In the current fixture, there's one bye. Ideally, we'd like to have two breaks, but we can't because we can't get access to the cricket grounds before the season.

"We need the MCG to start the season and it's reserved for cricket."

Demetriou dismissed concerns the season was too long, and was "bemused" by criticism of the AFL fixtures.

"I find it bemusing, all the talk about a compromised draw. We say unashamedly we have 18 teams going for 22 rounds and we know we're not going back to 18 rounds, we're just not going to do that.

"We've got contractual obligations at all venues, 45 games at the MCG, which is what helps fund their debt, same story at Etihad.

"The number of games won't be reduced. The draw is absolutely compromised, it's unashamedly comprised, but what's really bizarre about the whole thing, and I can't give you any logical explanation, it appears that the best four teams make the top four every year.

"What's even more bizarre is that history shows they normally play off in the prelim finals and the best team wins. So with all of these compromises and inequities, how does that actually happen?"

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-quarters-may-be-cut/story-e6frf9jf-1226132656062

[Coach]

STOP EFFING WITH THIS GAME YOU PRICKS!

Bloody poomen

[Hellenic Tiger]

Leave the game alone you f's.

[Loui Tufga]

Yeah, stop mucking with the game B*tch's or i'll, or i'll, or i'll...........