Shorter quarters likely just a 2020 fad says Gillon McLachlan
Reduced quarters are unlikely to feature beyond this season, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has revealed.
Reduced quarters are unlikely to feature beyond this season, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has revealed.
Quarters have been shortened this season to 16 minutes plus time-on — trimmed from the usual 20 — so games can be played on a shorter turnaround in order to complete the season. But McLachlan said it was a feature unlikely to be carried into 2021.
“I don’t think so,” he said on 3AW. “We’re looking at things all the time, but the 20 minutes (cut) to 16 is for the flexibility we need to get through this season. Our broadcasters understand that, and our supporters and others, but it’s not something that we’re contemplating for next year.”
As the game continues to look for spending cuts, he also confirmed that clubs would be required to trim 37 per cent from their soft cap this year. Clubs will now only be able to spend just over $500,000 on football operations until the end of the season, resulting in a drop of more than $3.5 million from the total football cap.
As the league eyes its June 11 return to playing, McLachlan said the league had an “80 per cent finalised” plan for crowds to return to the game, which has taken its cues from international sports, stadiums and health experts, including taking fans’ temperature as they enter the ground.
He is optimistic that crowds could return to football at some point this season, and declared that “we’ll be ready” if attendance was given the green light.
“We’ll be ready when the health officers say we’re right … I think we’re in good shape,” he said. “Every day that goes past, there’s a better chance.
“This is one where I’m not going to run ahead of the health officials and governments, but I do feel that it feels like the community is doing such an unbelievable job and our officials and health officers have done such a good job.
“We’re heading in a direction where we’re getting back to life. When that looks like and if that’s possible, I don’t know.”
Broadcasters are investigating the use of fake crowd noise in stadiums when games begin next month, something the NRL tried on its return to action on Thursday night, winning McLachlan’s support.
“I saw a bit of it. I thought the canned crowd noise was good. I thought it was a positive,” he said.
“Our broadcasters, I know, are looking at lots of different things. I know they’re looking at that.
“I thought it added to the atmosphere of the game. I think so (our game is slightly different in tempo than NRL) … it’s about how you do it in real time. I’ve seen a couple of things they’ve been trying … but they’ve been trying some stuff. There’s some real skill in it – some technical stuff. They’re wanting to get it right.”
HERALD SUN
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