I'd like to know whether TV has contributed to longer game time. I thought watching on TV this year there appeared to be longer between goals caused by (1) more than one advertisement and (2) the network covering the game choosing to play advertising and then a replay of the lead up to the goal before the game re-started. Similarly, at the ground there sometimes seemed to be very long delays while we waited for the ball to be bounced to restart play. And, if there were there more goals scored this year than in recent years - which I seem to recall being one of the arguments supporting the substitute rule - this would exacerbate the problem.

If I'm right perhaps the answer is to regulate better the control of the time between a goal and the next bounce down.

The way i've figured it now after reading some post's here, it used to be 4 x 25 qts + time on approx 4 x 5=120min, now 4 x 20 qts + time on approx 4 x 10= 120min same amount of time overall but less play'n footy= more rest time for players during timeon periods and the big PLUS the dictator gets more ADVERTISING $$$$$$$$$ to prop up that team that took ummm........hope ya's can follow that malarky,got me maths right too, a first.

The way i've figured it now after reading some post's here, it used to be 4 x 25 qts + time on approx 4 x 5=120min, now 4 x 20 qts + time on approx 4 x 10= 120min same amount of time overall but less play'n footy= more rest time for players during timeon periods and the big PLUS the dictator gets more ADVERTISING $$$$$$$$$ to prop up that team that took ummm........hope ya's can follow that malarky,got me maths right too, a first.

Your maths is right, but I don't think players got more rest time for the 'longer' time-off periods, because these same non-activity periods occurred before but just weren't counted as time-off.

Two exceptions though

1. dead time at centre bounces after goal waiting for TV light (less play time now)

2. limited time now to take a free kick (more play time now)

Given that 'then' was a total of about 4x(25+5) mins all up vs 'now' of 4x(20+10) mins both equalling the same 120 mins,.

plus the two points above equalling out each other (?) then nothing much has probably changed in either elapsed or playing time.

It could be argued though that in any particular game today the actual end time is more exact and time wasting techniques have less impact on actual time played

hoping this is clearer than mud?

I've just watched an 'inspirational' video that was put together for Carlton players before a finals game in 1995. (Tonight it was being used to inspire the local footy team - Macedon Cats - after their final training session before the Reserves Grand Final next Sunday.) Watching the video it was so obvious how the game has changed since those days. Arms being 'chopped' in marking contests, deliberate out of bounds, the use of hip and shoulder to knock an opponent out of the contest, etc etc. And back in 1995, it was a contest.

In my opinion, the 'contest' is being eradicated from our game these days.