Issues ticking away

The now-infamous Mason Wood shot clock wait has forced the AFL to make a change to shot clock arrangements for the balance of the season. The shot clock will not be seen on the large screens at AFL grounds during the final two minutes of each quarter, according to AFL operations boss Mark Evans.

AussieRulesBlog has mixed feelings about these issues.

The Mason Wood scenario, with the player clearly wasting time to give his team a better chance to win is ugly. But, as many have noted, he didn't contravene the Laws of the Game.

Evans, citing Nick Riewoldt as an example, noted that some players were exhausted when they got the ball and deserved as much time as was available to compose themselves before kicking. Well, yes — and no.

Clearly goals are important, both for winning the game, and for providing a spectacle for fans. Pity the poor exhausted defender or midfielder who has a bare six seconds to compose himself and take his kick. A poor kick from defence is tantamount to giving a goal away.

Thirty seconds seems too long for a shot for goal. As an Essendon fan, I grew used to seeing Matthew Lloyd go through his routine — and it didn't seem anywhere near as long as Mason Wood waited! Can we split the difference and make it 15 seconds for all kicks?