SA Footy

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon calls for shorter AFL matches to reduce injury
By Adam Cooper
April 18, 2010


St Kilda coach Ross Lyon floats the radical idea of reducing AFL games to two 45-minute halves to lessen the physical impact on players and shorten a day at the footy.

Amid league-wide discussion on how to reduce the physical toll on players in games of four 30-minute quarters, Lyon said reducing the duration of games by 25 per cent would please players, coaches and fans.

"They talk about changes to the game and (reducing the number of) interchanges, maybe it's about two 45-minute halves," Lyon said after the Saints beat Fremantle 16.12 (108) to 14.9 (93) at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night.

"Being a player and a coach you think 'Geez, it goes for a long time'.

"Maybe it is about two 45-minute halves.

"We're throwing up a lot of different options, but it's the one for a long period of time I've thought about.

"It would be explosive and electric and it wouldn't just become that war of attrition.

"Two hours is a long (time), 120 minutes it's an enormous amount of time and the demands on the body, so maybe it is a shortened version."

Lyon conceded Australian rules was a game of attrition, but felt his proposal was "worth looking at".

Now dont get me wrong, but since when were our quarters 30mins? The only reason they go for 30 is because of time on, in which the players do get rest. If there was time on for the 45min halves idea like soccer has then you will start seeing these halves go for 60-70mins which isnt really reducing game time, I think this is a very bad idea which could potentially ruin the great game we have. As they say "If it aint broke, dont fix it!"

No wonder the game of Aussie Rules is so frustrating. Every 5 mins a rule change, or some other new idea. I vote that we leave the game alone, no changes at all for 5 years.

Groover wrote: 120 minutes it's an enormous amount of time and the demands on the body"

It's only an enormous demand on the body because of the way coaches make players play. Maybe they should match their game plans to the length of the game rather than having the rules changed to match their game plans.

Completely agree Ingall. If there were no interchange nor reserves, the game would be much more sedate. The coaches have utilised those rules to their benefit. Imagine how much harder players will be forced to go if it's 90 mins? Then what?

Ingall wrote:

Groover wrote:120 minutes it's an enormous amount of time and the demands on the body"

It's only an enormous demand on the body because of the way coaches make players play.
Maybe they should match their game plans to the length of the game rather than having the rules changed to match their game plans.

Applause..

I rate Lyon highly, but can't agree with him on this issue.

Assuming Lyons' suggestion of 2 x 45 mins halves included time on, then they'd be playing 90 mins instead of the current 80 mins plus time on. That make 10 extra minutes.
If he wants a game of 2 x 45 min halves, then he should FCUUK off and go and coach that other softcock football code called soccer.

He also states that 25% less game time would please coaches , players and fans.
Coaches and players of course would be happier provided they still get paid the same BUT i couldn't imagine FANS being happy to see less footy for the $$$$ they already get ripped off for going.
Also wouldn't think that sponsors and TV stations would be happy as there would be less goals and 2 less major breaks in the game to squeeze in all their commercials.

Perhaps six 10 minutes "rounds" with 10 minute breaks between them would suit commercial interests, coaches and players...

jackpot jim wrote:Assuming Lyons' suggestion of 2 x 45 mins halves included time on, then they'd be playing 90 mins instead of the current 80 mins plus time on. That make 10 extra minutes.
If he wants a game of 2 x 45 min halves, then he should FCUUK off and go and coach that other softcock football code called soccer.

I have had a gutful of rule changes and everybody wanting to change the game every thirty effing seconds
LEAVE THE GAME ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Sleeping Giant wrote:No wonder the game of Aussie Rules is so frustrating. Every 5 mins a rule change, or some other new idea. I vote that we leave the game alone, no changes at all for 5 years.

Yep completely agree leave it alone, stop all the changes

Mr66 wrote:

jackpot jim wrote:Assuming Lyons' suggestion of 2 x 45 mins halves included time on, then they'd be playing 90 mins instead of the current 80 mins plus time on. That make 10 extra minutes.
If he wants a game of 2 x 45 min halves, then he should FCUUK off and go and coach that other softcock football code called soccer.

I have had a gutful of rule changes and everybody wanting to change the game every thirty effing seconds
LEAVE THE GAME ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree with this this is what is putting Fans off AFL football.

LEAVE THE GAME ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

If only they had said this a few years back... they've already gone too far

The standard of AFL games has dropped, if you don't produce a quality product the fans will drop off

Well, that's one way to bring footy fans offside.

Ingall, you couldn't have put it better. All the exploitations over the years have brought the game to where it is today.