AFL’s proposed halftime changes could shift Auskick to pre-game timeslot and crush thousands of dreams

The AFL’s proposed halftime changes will crush thousands of Auskick dreams and create havoc at stadiums, Jack Hudson writes.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 25: General Auskick action during the 2019 AFL round 06 ANZAC Day match between the Essendon Bombers and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 25, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

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I still remember the time I ran out onto the field at halftime to play an Auskick game.

It was 2008 at Football Park, Port Adelaide was hosting North Melbourne and I got to strut my stuff on the field like my heroes Warren Tredrea, Matthew Primus and Gavin Wanganeen had done.

You take it all in, you touch the grass, you feel a part of something massive.

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I had donned the Power guernsey and I felt like a star, as a kid, you imagine all those eyes are there to see you, you’re playing on the field in front of 40,000+ people.

Now, under proposed changes, the Auskick game could be booted to a pre-game timeslot as the AFL look to make the halftime break 10 minutes from its current 20.

The halftime Auskick games are a major part of what keeps the AFL atmosphere as the working man’s game, how anyone can get involved.

Removing that would crush thousands of dreams of kids and even parents who’d love to see their children run out on Adelaide Oval or even the MCG.

Auskick games could be moved from the halftime slot to a pre-game timeslot. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos.

Not to mention, toilet queues and lines for food and drinks would become hell as the rush before the third quarter starts would become chaotic.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and football operations boss Steve Hocking briefed the clubs prior to Wednesday night’s AFL Draft, with the aim to maintain the interest of fans at the ground and watching on TV.

As a football fan who has attended hundreds of games and watched even more on TV, I don’t think I’ve ever uttered the words “halftime is too long”.

In fact, I don’t think I’ve heard anybody say those words, aside from maybe a child who’s had his halftime hot dog and just wants the action to start.

Fans aren’t happy about it, but Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury said he likes the idea, yet wanted another rule tweaked back to the way it was.

Shorter half time 👌 Auskick pre game. Night games start much earlier 7pm. If we are worried players won’t get enough rest. Left field idea, unlimited rotations 😂

— Scott Pendlebury (@SP_10) November 27, 2019

What a stupid idea halving the half time break would be. You have lost the plot @AFL. What about those Auskickers that play on the ground at half time? What about those people who go outside or go get food and drink at half time? What about clapping your team off at HT?

— Samuel Power (@SamuelPower68) November 27, 2019

Shorter Half Time breaks are another example that the @afl just dont care about the sport. It's all about advertising revenue and TV. The sport is secondary to their lust for money. Little League/Auskick Local Footy can look after themselves apparently. #footy #afl #$$$

— Johnson Von Trapp (@JVTrapp06) November 27, 2019

I love that the @AFL is shortening half time breaks from 20 minutes to 10 minutes because shorter breaks are better for dwindling attention span, yet they literally have a 24 hour break between pick 20 and 21 in the @AFLDraft 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/AE4fTZxc4E

— Anth (@aartusa) November 27, 2019

Furthermore, last year’s radical rule changes actually had the reverse effect on goals and we had our lowest scoring year on average in over half a century.

The score review system is still flawed, the ‘holding the ball’ rule is a big mystery, the sliding below the knee rule is still a stain on the game and free agency compensation still exists.

There are much bigger issues that have been caused that need to be fixed before halving halftime due to apparent entertainment issues, which no fan has issued any complains about.

Let the game evolve on its own, it has done for over a century, it does not need quick reactive responses to one-off situations.

To both Mr McLachlan and Mr Hocking, don’t make these changes, the fans like our simple game and please, don’t crush the dreams of thousands of kids.