Fagan urges AFL to shorten length of quarters

With casualty wards growing each week, Lions coach Chris Fagan has urged the AFL to make a potentially gamechanging adjustment.

The blood rule forced Mitch Robinson from the field.

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has called for the length of quarters to be shortened after his side’s clash with Carlton went for 136 minutes.

Both the second and third term clocked over 36 and 37 minutes respectively as the sides piled on 17 goals between them while blood rules and score reviews also dragged the quarters out.

Quarters have reverted back to twenty-minutes plus time-on this season after being shortened to 16 minutes plus time-on due to the COVID affected nature of the 2020 season.

However, Fagan believes the time-length is having an effect on sides all around the league are struggling to cope with the return to the traditional length as sides grapple with increasing injury-lists.

“I think we have to have a look at it – it is way too long,” Fagan said to the media post-game.

“It wears the players out; I don’t know the stats but the injury lists at clubs at the moment are big and long and we are only into round six,

“I’m sure the AFL are aware of it but I think the game needs to be shorter than 136 minutes,

“I know it felt shorter last year because we took it back to 16 minutes plus time on, I reckon the right answer is somewhere in between, maybe 18 and time on.”

Despite the concerns about the length in which the quarters went for and a multitude of heavy knocks, his side was able to hold firm and come away with the win.

The Lions were without Darcy Gardiner after he was subbed off in the first term with a concussion, while Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale battled on with an ankle complaint and a head-knock.

“There was a lot happening and it started early with Darcy and Lachie,” Fagan said.

“It was a really brave effort by our boys because there’s no doubt that Carlton came to play today, they had been put under the heat all week for whatever reason I’m not sure of because I think they’re going quite well in terms of their development.

“We had to play right til the end to win it and I was really proud of our players and the way they went about it and stood up under pressure.”

Fagan was particularly pleased with how his side bounced back in the second term, booting seven goals to two after a slow start which saw them behind at quarter time.

“I thought the way that we played in the second-quarter was just outstanding,” Fagan said.

“We just did everything we wanted to do in that quarter and it was a really powerful performance.”

Brisbane welcomes Port Adelaide to the Gabba next Saturday night in yet another test for the Lions as they look to build on their 3-3 start.

The Lions are into the top eight for the first time this season.