Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley believes shorter quarters will make for better viewing
Footy fans with a need for speed better get ready for exhilarating play when the AFL finally resumes, with Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley forecasting a more “ballistic” and “explosive” brand.
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Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley believes shorter quarters will make for a more “ballistic” and “explosive” game once the AFL season resumes.
The AFL announced prior to Round 1 that games this season would be reduced to 16-minute quarters plus time on to help players deal with the potential for more games crammed into a shorter period of time.
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Buckley said he agreed with the move and believed a permanent change should be considered.
“I think if the shorter quarters continue it will make more of a more ballistic game and a more explosive game than we’ve seen before,” Buckley said during a Collingwood fans’ session on Facebook.
“I think that will be better viewing, so the short quarters might be something we’ve stumbled on.
“It’s been discussed for quite awhile, but it’s amazing what you have to do when circumstances prevail.”
The Magpies players are all on individual programs and Buckley said it was important they maintained their fitness levels during the shutdown.
“There are expectations around the training they do across the week,” he said.
“Kev White is our head of conditioning and has that all covered.
“You don’t get fitter than you get going into Round 1 because you’ve had a whole block of pre-season and you’ve tapered and the first three or four weeks are generally going to be the most intense games you’re going to play because everyone’s up.
“Our players have enjoyed that and got to that situation and they don’t want to let that go, so there’s a fair bit of work the boys are doing to stay in good nick.”
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Buckley said he remained in contact with premiership player Dayne Beams, who remains on leave from the club to focus on his mental health.
“It was great to see that article on Beamsy on the weekend and (read) that is he is in a great space,” he said.
“We’re in touch periodically but he has largely been driven through himself to get himself in a happier place.
“And I believe he is, with a few texts over the weekend.”
Originally published as Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley believes shorter quarters will make for better viewing
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