AFL increases length of quarter breaks at all games

The AFL has increased its quarter breaks at all games.

The league this morning wrote to its broadcast partners to inform them that the quarter and three-quarter time intervals would be increased from six minutes to six and a half minutes.

The six and a half minute break had previously only applied to prime-time games on a Thursday and Friday night. It was also implemented for finals.

But from Round 1 onwards, it will now be instituted in all matches.

Curiously, the 30-second increase in quarter breaks comes as the AFL make reducing total match times a priority.

Sixteen of the 20 quarters played in Opening Round went beyond 30 minutes, with the goal-laden third quarter between Sydney and Carlton lasting more than 40 minutes and the opening GWS-Hawthorn quarter running for more than 37 minutes.