Greg Swann's plan to improve AFL games in 2026

Kieran Francis

Greg Swann's plan to improve AFL games in 2026 image

Incoming AFL football boss Greg Swann says he wants to shorten games as one of his first mandates in office.

AFL quarters regularly go over 30 minutes with delays caused from score reviews, player injuries and in-game quirks.

However, Swann, who has finished up as Brisbane Lions chief executive and will start at the AFL next week. believes matches can be shortened without actually reducing playing time.

The highly-respected official believes the length of games can be reduced by speeding up processes around the centre-bounce and boundary throw-ins.

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Swann also signalled that the AFL's score review ARC (AFL Review Centre) will be audited, with a juggled mark from Liam Jones taking minutes to be adjudicated during the Brisbane-Bulldogs match on Friday night.

“It’s a great game and it’s in good health. My thing will be tweaking things,” Swann said to Fox Footy post-match.

“I want to talk to the clubs about what they say. But there’s some things that are pretty evident.

“I was quoted yesterday saying the game is too long ... hopefully we can get into that pretty quickly.

“Even waiting for ruckmen, if there’s guys there, just throw the ball up and get on with it, that sort of stuff. I think quarters are averaging 35 minutes now, it’s too long.”

Swann continued: "Hopefully there’s some technology around so we can speed that up and maybe get that more accurate. I think there’s some meetings around some new technology, so hopefully we can get that done."

Kieran Francis

Kieran Francis is a senior editor at The Sporting News based in Melbourne, Australia. He started at Sportal.com.au before being a part of the transition to Sporting News in 2015. Just prior to the 2018 World Cup, he was appointed chief editor of Goal.com in Australia. He has now returned to The Sporting News where his passions lay in football, AFL, poker and cricket - when he is not on holiday.