Push to tighten AFL game time
The AFL is analysing ways to reduce the length of matches without altering the spectacle or putting pressure on players after a series of drawn-out games in recent years.
Though the average game time remained 120 minutes during last season, the finals average rose to 123 minutes. Six quarters during the finals extended beyond 32 minutes, including two which lasted more than 34 minutes.
Carlton coach Mick Malthouse has called for an overhaul of time-on to prevent the games from dragging on, and even suggested the match could be reduced to 90 minutes.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan agreed the games needed to be shorter, but said he still believed in the tradition of a two-hour contest.
"We've been having a look at the length of our games. When you have 36 or 37-minute quarters, that's too long," McLachlan said.
"It's something that's being looked at this year but in terms of 60, 80, 90 minutes, I think that's a bit short. People have grown up with 30-minute quarters. A two-hour game."
The AFL has made several changes to time-on. Quarters were reduced from 25 minutes to 20 minutes in 1994 and time-on was added from the moment a goal or boundary umpire signalled.
The game was sped up in 2006 by allowing players to kick in as soon as the goal umpire had signalled a behind, instead of having to wait for the flag to be waved, but time-on was also added from the moment the field umpire blew his whistle for a ball-up.
McLachlan said it was crucial to find a balance between the right amount of game time and players having enough rest.
"I think there's been a consistent message for a few years now from the players that they are almost at their limits," he said.
The blood rule and the introduction of the score review system have added time to games but the AFL has decided to beef up technology at more grounds in 2015.
Domain Stadium and Adelaide Oval will be fitted out with goal-line cameras this season, bringing them into line with the MCG and Etihad Stadium after a trial last year was deemed a success.
The grounds will have cameras installed on the goal posts to give a better view of the lines.
Camera angles in Perth had been mainly inconclusive when attempting to determine score reviews. McLachlan said adding cameras in Perth and Adelaide would cost the AFL "a few hundred thousand" dollars.
"When you have 36 or 37-minute quarters, that's too long.""AFL chief executive *Gillon McLachlan *
