Andy Maher is strongly opposed to Eddie McGuire’s idea of permanently shortening quarters.
Maher is also in complete disagreement with McGuire’s view that football should be grouped in the entertainment bracket that includes activities such as watching Netflix or going to a concert or restaurant.
The Collingwood president believes that AFL matches go for too long and suggested shortening quarters as part of an “entertainment offering” to ensure it fits into people's lifestyles.
“The part about all this that really bristles, and I was so surprised to hear Eddie (McGuire) say this because he loves his footy and he's a traditionalist at heart,” Maher told SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“This notion that the game of football, the actual siren-to-siren playing of the game, needs to be seen in the same prism as a night out at a restaurant, a good movie on Netflix, part of the entertainment suit that is out there for all of us to pick and choose from, that is the stuff that gets my absolute blood boiling – I feel like my head is about to explode when I hear people say that.
“This is a game, this is a great game, that is so important to all of us and this notion that we need to make it a bit fizzier and a bit jazzier and a bit more entertaining … does Eddie McGuire truly believe that?
“Does he honestly believe that unless we shorten the game by six minutes a quarter, we’re going to lose a generation of people who want to be entertained?
“I don’t buy the fact that shorter quarters is the panacea for making sure that we don’t lose a generation of people who are going to be committed to the game because it’s not entertaining enough. I don’t know where that comes from, I really don’t.
“I think I need a bit more information before I’m just going to swallow that.”
Quarters were cut to 16 minutes plus time on for the opening round and will remain that way for the remainder of the 2020 season.
