This is not meant to be disrespectful of the clubs still in the finals in 2020 – good luck if your team is still in the race.
I’m going to assume that by December 2020, we have Covid under control and football can resume a semi-normal existence in 2021.
If not, please change this plan to 2022!
This season saw some enforced experiments that could tweaked to work in the long term.
Sixteen minutes (+ Time On) quarters
I don’t like them and most of you don’t like them but I suspect the AFL and their sponsors are quite pleased with the outcomes of shorter quarters in 2020.
Us punters won’t get a say in this and the decision will be made at Head Office after consulting with clubs.
Shorter quarters (than the traditional 20 minutes + Time On) will enable the AFL to play more games in a normal season.
More games equals more revenue and we all know this is what drives the AFL – and in many ways it has to.
I suspect the change to 18-minute quarters is a reasonable adjustment that has already been suggested by some.
When I say more games, I mean an increase from 22 to 26 games. This would allow every team to play every other team three times over a two-year period.
It does not equate to more actual playing time over the season but it will make it a little fairer for all teams.
In the past, some teams have had “easy draws”.
Clubs would have one additional game over the two years which could be a “marquee game” against a traditional rival.
Hub Life and five-day breaks
Before ‘Hub Life’ became a phrase, I proposed road trips (in my February 6th, 2020 article) with four or five-day breaks.
Some people liked the idea, others thought it was “stupid” or suggested it “won’t work and won’t be considered by the AFL or the AFLPA”.
Well, 2020 proved that it can work and players from all clubs put up with a lot more than I proposed.
Now that the clubs, the players and the AFL have trialled a system of “road trips” or “hub life”, there is no reason it can’t be a permanent part of the fixtures but on a much better planned basis.
Perhaps the fixtures coordinator can design the fixtures so that five day breaks are only for a team not travelling.
What I mean by this is that if Brisbane travel to Victoria to play Carlton at the MCG they have a five-day break before playing St Kilda at Etihad then fly home and get a six-day break (minimum) before their next game.
Season length
For 2017-2019, the AFL home-and-away season was 158 days from start to finish. Increasing this by just seven days allows sufficient flexibility to complete all 234 games that would compose a 26-round season while giving teams a minimum of a five day break.
There would be multiple midweek games and where possible, these can be scheduled for school holiday periods.
However, there will be times when crowds are down – I think this is a reality we have to accept. As much as we don’t like it, television revenue is more important than physical spectators.
How long will the 2021 season be? (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Restricting the number of games for individual players
If we have 26 games in a season, I suggest we restrict each player to a maximum of 22 games. The clubs can manage this themselves with simple over sight by the AFL.
Many players are already “managed” and rest for games against lesser opponents – this is just an extension of that reality.
It would also encourage clubs not to play a player who is carrying a minor injury.
The other advantage with this is that a player could sit out a road trip (and therefore two games) if they had an injury, family issue or anything else. They would not be disadvantaged in the Brownlow and Coleman awards as all players could play 22 games.
If a player was suspended for two games, their maximum would be 20 for the season.
Furthermore, first-year players could be given reasonable breaks during the season if the club felt it was in the players’ interest.
Also, if it means we get one more year of Gary Ablett, I’m all for it – and I’m not a Cats supporter.
This would actually reduce the maximum possible playing time for each player for the season from 1760 minutes (plus time on) prior to 2020 to 1584 minutes (plus time on) from 2021.
Constructing the fixture
I see no reason why the AFL cannot construct a two-year fixture for 2021 and 2022. No need for dates or venues until say the January before the season starts.
At the end of 2021, the fixtures committee would have a relatively simple job of allocating times and venues for the next season.
Looking back over 2020, the AFL has managed the season reasonably well and most players have fulfilled their duties without major problems and we have all been entertained.
SimplySimon
Guest
"If you want a 26-game season there is no reason to program games more frequently. Just start the season earlier. The NRL plays a 26 round season and they never have to turn around and play on a Tuesday or Wednesday" The NRL also play a 3 week Origin series in the middle of that 26 weeks (2 byes I think) plus some sort of international comp in November (in a normal year). Kinda makes our season look pitifully short. Having said that, I have nothing against mid-week fixtures. The 16 minute quarters has ruined our game. It has changed the whole game and the way it is played. It has virtually eliminated the fatigue factor and no it hasn't increased athletisism. But, I doubt any of that will matter as the AFL will chase the dollar. Talking of dollars, this year will have hit our sport hard. Its true that we were (relatively speaking) sitting pretty before Covid began but the costs of low/no audiences, reduced tv revenue, costs of relocating half our comp and a shortened season is going to cost us big time and our losses are likely to be more than any other Australian code. Whilst I do not doubt our ability to withstand these losses, we need to prepare ourselves for a nasty surprise. The consequence of this is that chasing the dollar is likely to be the theme behind decision making in 2021. Looks like 16 minutes may be here to stay.
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
rubbish to you to.
Pineappleonpizza
Roar Rookie
I don’t mind the games limit , would add a bit of intrigue around selections but there would need to be some sort of system in place to stop teams sending a team of potatoes interstate to tackle the top team etc
George Apps
Roar Rookie
I hate the open slather, anything goes attitude of the AFL and the sooner we got back a normal season the better I'll like it. I'm another Thursday game hater as well!
George Apps
Roar Rookie
*&^%$#@!! Rubbish!
DTM
Roar Rookie
I get where you are coming from but I think you are in the minority.
DTM
Roar Rookie
I agree with your comment on 20 minute quarters but it's not going to happen. One of the problems with starting the season earlier is ground availability. The NRL doesn't have the same problem as they don't play on cricket grounds. In a normal season, players can only play a maximum of 22 games anyway so there is no reduction in the number of games for the players. Also, I feel it is reasonable to honour our history - if we allow players to play all 26 games, it wont be long before someone chalks up 500 games without being as legendary as Harvey or Tuck. Personally, I don't like mid week games either but again, the reality is it suits the AFL and their sponsors.
DTM
Roar Rookie
I think under this plan football tourism will flourish (post Covid). I'm in WA and usually try to get to Victoria once a year but only ever get to see my team play their once. If they had 2 games in 6 days, I suspect a lot of fans would travel for games.
DTM
Roar Rookie
I suggest that this will be a way for the AFL to convince AFLPA to agree to a 26 game season. I also like it because few players actually play every game these days and it gives clubs the chance to plan for a break for their star players without negatively affecting their chances of a Brownlow or a Coleman.
DTM
Roar Rookie
I agree with everything you say. Sometime ago AFL changed from a sport to a business. Now the business of AFL is being milked for whatever the elite can get out of it. My article was not what I want to see but what I expect to see (either 2021 or sometime later).
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
I like the concept of 15 mins a Quater,bit makes the game and teams to think on the run and it makes more exciting.
Klompy
Guest
Very True WASS. Lets stop killing the game and go back to 20 minutes quarters.
Brian
Guest
I don't like the idea of restricting how many games a player can play. fitness is part of the game.
Gyfox
Roar Rookie
I don't think shorter quarters automatically means more games. I do like the idea of a Queensland hub for 2 weeks in the middle of Melbourne's winter - esp if we supporters can go up there (= post-Covid).
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Just like how we weren't going to have a night grand final...
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
I would have a game every night. I found my life better with fresh footy to anticipate and review every day. It also stopped a heck of a lot of gossipy chat and rehash which was welcome. The shelf life of interest in a normal footy game is about 48 hours max. After that it goes to long term memory. Then we start to look forward to next game and sometimes as long as two weeks before our team is on again which is a form of cruelty and mental torture. Anyway a game a day is not going to happen this next year anyway ... maybe one day. The only thing we do know it that it will change. It always does in some way. Failing that a footy blitz in the school holidays is a step in the right direction. Young persons get mixed up more through under stimulation than too much of what they love.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I heard Steve Hocking say it won't be happening in an interview
Klompy
Guest
I think the 20 minutes quarters should stay. If they have 17-5 System will it mean a 26 round fixture. so every one can play twice and still have the season ending in September. That would be good. Because If the finals go into October it is getting warmer in WA and I think it is to long, when it is finals time especially in Perth. Lets get back to truditonal AFL for the season 2021. I hope it happens I think it is a good Idea. I hope their is no complaints from the Clubs. Especially my team now with the Biggest membership AFl Club the Blue and Gold. Starting to like the 17-5 idea. I hope it happens.
CJ
Roar Rookie
Yeah im not a fan of Thurs night games either - Good Call!
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
The AFL has already stated that shortened games will continue next year. I expect it to continue into the future, for one reason; $$$. Money is the only thing the AFL cares about, not fairness, not the integrity of the competition. The shortening of the games has allowed the AFL to get two ads between every goal and more ads between quarters. The half time break in this year's grand final will be longer than the quarters!! The 'festival of footy' had little to do with COVID and everything to do with dominating TV ratings and generating more cash. The teams could have actually had bigger breaks; they played 3 or 4 games in quick succession and then had 10 day breaks. The priority was to test the waters with TV ratings, not to get the season done, and definitely not player welfare or the interests of the people who watch the games. The AFL has sold it soul to funnel more money into the pockets of Gil and his cronies. It's an out and out disgrace. 800 staff to run a football competition is a disgrace. When your kids are grown up and the game is totally unrecognisable to the one we love remember to tell them that Gillon McLaughlin destroyed the game so he could buy himself a new Toorak mansion. Never forget - Gil killed footy.