AFL news: Players, coach weigh in on calls for extra time after Anzac Day draw between Essendon and Collingwood

A divide has been exposed between players and coaches over the introduction of extra-time during the AFL home-and-away season, with several coaches calling for fans to have the final say.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 25: Kyle Langford of the Bombers reacts after missing a shot on goal to put the Bombers in front in the dying stages during the 2024 AFL Round 07 match between the Essendon Bombers and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 25, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Thursday’s thrilling Anzac Day draw between Collingwood and Essendon has reignited debate on the introduction of extra time during the AFL season, with players and coaches divided.

Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca declared players would be happy to keep playing in an attempt to decide games, suggesting an extra 10-minute period to find a winner.

“I think if you speak to a lot of the players I think they’d play an extra 10 minutes,” he said on Nova radio.

“Five to 10 minutes … and then I reckon after that 10 minutes if it’s a draw, it’s a draw. You can’t keep playing (forever).”

A shattered Kyle Langford after his late miss on Anzac Day. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

However, Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield – and president of the AFL Player’s Association – said the game should keep the draw.

“I was always one where I thought a result would be nice,” he said.

“I feel like everyone would like that. But having watched the game as a neutral observer yesterday, I sort of felt like the draw was appropriate for that game.

“Everyone leaves sort of a bit melancholy but it just felt right. Like both teams had their momentum at different stages and opportunities to win.

“And that is the uniqueness about our game. So I’ve sort of turned full circle in the draw and apart from obviously finals, I feel like it’s a nice part of the game that may send some a bit crazy at times.”

Senior coaches joined Dangerfield in saying they would like the draw to remain in the home and away season.

Senior coaches Chris Scott and Sam Mitchell were comfortable with the draw as a final result, while Michael Voss said he would like fans to be able to have their say on the issue.

The Geelong coach said he didn’t have a problem with the draw.

“A draw is a result,” Scott said.

“Most of the time it is a fair reflection of the contest, I guess there are times where one team dominates and the other team is lucky to get to the line with the draw.

“I think a draw in finals doesn’t make sense, so they have fixed that, but two points in a home and away season is something.”

Kyle Langford is comforted by Peter Wright. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Voss said he would like fans to be able to have their say on the issue.

“I don’t really have a strong view on whether we have to play extra time or not,” the Carlton coach said.

“I would almost hand that over to supporters to see where they would like to go with that and what the future looks like.

“There are higher demands if you do go down that path, if you had it happen a couple of weeks in a row it would make things interesting. But I can see why there is an argument for and against. I traditionally like it the way it is but I would be happy to lean on others to make that final call.”

Mitchell was drawn to the emotion of the stalemate, with the Hawthorn coach saying it added something different to the game.

“My personal take is I love the emotion that sport creates, when you win you have this great level of emotion and when you lose it is not a great feeling but is a depth of emotion,” Mitchell said.

“So the emotion created with a draw is something new and I really think it is the right way and I enjoy it. “In-season is building to the finals campaign where it should be different rules because you are competing for different things.

“So for me the only fair way is for it to be continued as it is.”

Originally published as AFL news: Players, coach weigh in on calls for extra time after Anzac Day draw between Essendon and Collingwood