The time has come to reduce the length of an AFL game from approximately 120 minutes back to 100.

Injury, player longevity, blowouts in scores and a change in fans expectations and desires are reasons why the game should be played in a shorter format.

When you compare AFL to its main sporting rivals in Australia our game goes for considerably longer.

CHECK OUT ROO’S INJURED STARS TEAMS BELOW

Soccer games take approximately 90 – 95 minutes plus a half-time break, rugby league is even less at around 82 minutes, once again with one break. AFL games are averaging close to 120 minutes with quarter and half time breaks taking the length of a game to between 150-160 minutes.

MORE: SYMES STILL UNSURE ON FOOTY FUTURE

Whether it is at the ground or viewing it from the comfort of your lounge spectators want a result in a shorter time frame. All the research suggests people are time-poor these days. When the AFL recently surveyed its fans results strongly indicated that a shorter game is preferred. News_Rich_Media: Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney has questioned the standard of the playing surface at Manuka, saying his players were lucky to escape injury.

Look at the success of the Twenty20 Big Bash League over the last five years as an example of listening and responding to the wishes of fans.

A key area of concern for everybody is injury.

There are approximately 800 players on AFL lists and last week depending on which injury list you look at there were 120 players that wouldn’t be taking the field for some reason. That’s right 120!

If you look at the two teams I have picked in below you can see I am not just talking about young kids or average players I am talking about lots of the game’s superstars.

The two sides wouldn’t look out of place in a State of Origin battle. I am not saying that the length of game wholly and solely contributes to all injuries. However if the game was reduced by 20 minutes or 15 per cent you would have to think that the amount of injuries would be reduced as well. News_Image_File: Matthew Leuenberger is helped off with a knee injury. Picture: SARAH REED.

Quite often injuries occur when the body is tired or pushed beyond its capability.

They also occur as a result of collisions, landing awkwardly or just bad luck.

With so many players on the sidelines the standard of the game has to drop. Kids don’t get to see their favourite players, television is robbed of its best product and teams themselves can’t play to their full potential.

Players themselves would benefit in the long run as well with less injuries. Careers would be lengthened which would in turn be better for all concerned as all our best players would be playing for longer.News_Image_File: Collingwood's Nathan Brown walks off with a dislocated shoulder. Picture: Toby Zerna

Blowouts in games are another area of concern. Big margins have always been a part of AFL but there are no winners in one-sides games. Reducing the length of games would limit size of blowouts and lead to closer contests which we all like, especially television broadcasters.

We are now seeing some trialling of new time slots for AFL footy. Thursday, Sunday and Monday nights are potentially going to be the norm going forward. Apart from my wife being annoyed at me watching footy all weekend. I have actually found myself being sick of watching it by Sunday night. Last weekend I didn’t watch the Essendon v Carlton game because I had had enough and yesterday I didn’t watch the Fremantle v Essendon game for the same reason. So if the game time was reduced so would the risk of footy fatigue and an unhappy wife and no one wants that!

I know a lot of people are frustrated by the amount of rule changes in footy over the last five years or so but I think a change to the length to our game should be strongly considered for the above reasons. I can’t see any negatives only positives.News_Image_File: Bulldog Shaun Higgins comes off with a head injury. Picture: Justin Benson-Cooper

If we don’t give our fans what they want I fear crowds and television audiences will drop. This will seriously impact the financial situation of our game at all levels, not just the AFL.

With the television rights being negotiated over the next two years the time is right to make the call. No-one likes see a cavalcade of stars on the sidelines like Chris Judd, Adam Goodes, or Taylor Walker and reducing game time would help tackle the problem.

Who knows, with shorter game time you might even be able to fit in to the new two-hour car parks in North Adelaide without getting a costly fine.

F: A.Monfries (Port), K.Tippett (Syd), M.LeCras (WC)

B: C.Enright (Geel), D.Fletcher (Ess), P.Hanley (Bris)

HF: P.Chapman (Ess), T. Walker (Adel), A.Goodes (Syd)

HB: B.Waters (WC), A.Rance (Rich), A.Otten (Adel)

C: N van Berlo (Adel), J Ziebell (North), B Deledio (Rich)

C: D Rich (Bris), B Goddard (Ess), B Crouch (Adel)

HF: S Motlop (Gee), C Mayne (Fre), M Walters (Fre)

HB: S Hurn (Gee), B Reid (Coll), R Henderson (Adel)

F: C Wingard (Port), S Reid (Syd), P Ryder (Ess)

B: S Gilbert (St K), S Fisher (St K), P Davis (GWS)

Foll: N Naitanui (WC), C Judd (Carl), A Swallow (North)

Foll: I Maric (Rich), M Barlow (Fre), S Selwood (WC)

I/C: M Kruezer (Carl), S Mumford (GWS), A Christensen (Gee), J Martin (GC)

I/C: L Whitfield (GWS), D. Shiel (GWS), B Sewell (Haw), D Morris