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Random ideas to improve the AFL (part II)

Roar Guru
5th March, 2015
8

Following on from Part 1, I have put together five other ideas for the AFL to enhance the game that we all know and love.

6. Nine unique games in one weekend to start the season
Due to the cricket world cup, it was not going to be able to happen this year. But with some of the scheduling that the AFL has used over the past few seasons it is getting to the point that a unique nine-game fixture would be a wonderful way to start the season.

For football purists and even casual fans, Round 1 is still one of the peak watch periods of the season. It would be great for all football fans if the chance to watch all 18 teams live in a unique timeslot to start the season.

Consider this for eastern time start times: Thursday night 7.30pm, Friday night 7.30pm, Saturday 11.30am (NZ game), Saturday 2.10pm, Saturday 4.50pm, Saturday 7.30pm, Saturday 10.10pm (Western Derby), Sunday 12.40pm, Sunday 3.20pm.

Nine time slots, nine games, 18 teams, 18 chances to watch. OK, this is pretty random, but give the footy fanatics what they want AFL.

7. A revision of time on
Mick Malthouse was lambasted for comments he made around the length of AFL matches. Most chose to look at the sensationalist nature of his comments and degrade against that.

However, the simple point that Malthouse was trying to make was correct, a quarter that has 20 minutes of game time should not have an additional 15 minutes of stoppage time.

Rather than go with massive changes, a slight tinker of the time on should be able to achieve the optimum of a 25-28 minute quarter.

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With AFL umpires at an all time high and the fitness levels of these umpires rapidly improved in the past decade, letting the clock run when the ball goes out of play or after a goal would be an easy way to shed minutes off of a quarter and off a game.

Again the professionalism of the AFL timekeepers has improved and the onus could easily be placed on the timekeeper if there was a clear delay in the ball coming back into play.

Another option if the AFL really wants to bring the game back to a modern pace would be to let the clock run when an umpire calls for a bounce or throw up. Again, the game has changed where everything is fast paced anyway.

Taking a few seconds here and there can really help reduce the game without affecting the match itself.

Malthouse was right in that AFL games are too long, the way in which he suggested amending was not right. Revise time on and you have a modern game for a modern world.

8. Three free-to-air networks covering AFL
With the evolution of pay television in Australia the move continues to occur with sports content moving to Foxtel and other paid internet sites. It would be a great statement for the AFL if they could instead look to make a move back to free-to-air content in the next television rights.

Foxtel and FoxFooty will always have a place and will always cover every game live, now that the move has been made, but it would be refreshing if the AFL looked at getting the three major commercial networks involved.

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Using the earlier idea of a regular Thursday night time slot, being able to offer a Thursday and Friday night package, two Saturday games and two Sunday games as three separate packages to commercial television would be a fantastic way to take the game back to the people.

The AFL have managed to masterfully make the most of their television rights over the last two deals but they should recognise that online content is going to be a key part of the next deal. If the AFL can find a way to match last contracts television deal and instead gain the additional profit out of the online content, it could be a real win for fans.

9. A 100-year agreement for a day grand final at the MCG
In a world that is becoming more fast paced, tradition is becoming a more cherished trait. In the quest for the all mighty dollar, tradition is often short changed.

Some things though should transcend money and AFL grand final day is one of them. The AFL putting in an agreement with the MCG for 100 years of day grand finals would be a wonderful way to put tradition first on what many Australians consider an iconic day on the calendar.

Television networks have been the main push behind a twilight or night grand final to maximise audiences and therefore their own revenues.

One of the main arguments used is the Super Bowl in America as a game that is got a worldwide following based on the promotion of one game. However the AFL will never be in a position to replicate this global phenomenon.

Ask purists who follow American football and they will say that the quality of the actual game becomes diminished with a longer half time break and a night game as opposed to at day. It is very easy to make the argument that “it works in America so why not bring it here?”

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But that is ignoring one of the great traditions that football was started on. Going to the football on a Saturday afternoon and cheering your team on, win, lose or draw.

Sometimes tradition should win.

10. The death of fantasy football
Never ever going to happen because it is considered a way to engage interest in the game from non-traditional supporter backgrounds, however it must be said that fantasy football has resulted in a real dumbing down of the analysis about the game from fans and from media experts alike.

Too often now players are being judged and games being discussed from a fantasy perspective, instead of enjoying a game for the contest that it is. Footy at its pure sense should never need additional interest generated.

Australian rules at its best is the best spectator sport in the world and focusing on what makes the game great rather than basic numbers would be great for footy purists.

Give me reality over fantasy any day.

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