'Cue outrage': Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield declares 'it's time' for reduced quarter lengths
Geelong skipper and AFL players association president Patrick Dangerfield has declared "it's time" for the AFL to consider reduced quarter lengths.
Dangerfield responded on social media platform X to an interview with NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
The NBA commissioner suggested their league's quarters should be reduced by two minutes, which received positive feedback from Australian basketball great Andrew Bogut.
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It sparked Dangerfield to suggest the same move be made in the AFL, where quarters currently run for 20 minutes, plus time on.
The premiership Cat admitted he feels public interest could dwindle if the AFL don't keep up with other fast-paced sports.
"As audiences' attention span reduces the debate will continue with the AFL quarter lengths. It's time to reduce them. - cue outrage," Dangerfield said on X.
He then added context to his original comments.
"Now I've heard the 'record ratings attendance' argument. Less game less pay BLA BLA BLA," Dangerfield said.
But the Cats midfielder is confident that reduced quarters could mean more sponsorship interest, as demand could increase.
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"It's simple supply and demand. Reduce the supply and the demand goes up," he said.
"Sponsors and salary follow. NBA has an oversupply. NFL have nailed the supply and demand and I'm not sure we have."
Dangerfield has been an advocate for the reduction of the AFL's season length, which has continued to increase over the last few seasons.
Currently, the AFL have their Opening Round and Gather Round fixtures, which takes the home-and-away season to 24 matches, not including four weeks of finals.
Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats leads his team off after winning the AFL Second Qualifying Final match between Port Adelaide Power and Geelong Cats at Adelaide Oval, on September 05, 2024, in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images) Getty
Clubs still get two byes during the regular season and if they make finals, a week off before September.
In 2020, when the AFL was forced to reduce and relocate their season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, quarters were reduced to 15 minutes.
The Cats made the grand final that season, with Dangerfield at the time satisfied with the shorter quarters.
