Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson has proposed scrapping the draw for the 2020 season only, and playing extra time to decide games tied after four quarters.
This AFL home and away season will feature just 17 games for each team, down from 22, putting more stakes on each game as clubs can afford fewer losses before being knocked out of the finals race.
The Bulldogs game record holder believes the league should ensure there’s a clear winner in every match by implementing the rules in finals, which see extra time played if scores are level at the final siren.
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“No draws in 2020 only. The season is shortened, I think four points should be on the line every week. You’re not splitting the points, we’re playing it out,” he said on Fox Footy Live.
“Because we’re trialling a few other different things with the shorter quarters, and those aspects of the game, why not draws?”
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In finals, there are no draws. Instead the two teams play one period of extra time, comprising of two five-minute halves, plus time on. If scores remain level after that, another period of extra time is played.
For several years a rule was in place that would have seen Grand Finals decided by ‘golden point’ – if scores were level after extra time, teams would play with the next score winning the match. That was removed at the end of last year.
The most recent extra time final saw West Coast and Port Adelaide tied at 60 points in their 2017 Elimination Final.
The Power led 73 to 66 after one half, and led on the final siren, but a free kick to Luke Shuey allowed him to kick a post-siren goal and win the game for the Eagles.
