THE 18 AFL coaches have given a ringing endorsement to the length of matches, but not the length of the season.
In a confidential survey conducted by AFL Media and the AFL Coaches' Association, 11 coaches said the 22-game season was too long.
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Six coaches said they supported a 17-match season, meaning each team would play each other once.
Four voted for an 18-game season, which would allow each club to play two derby matches as well as each other team once.
There was also support for a 20-game season and for 25 games.
Only six coaches supported the 22-game home and away season.
Three of the coaches who voted to retain the status quo suggested a three-conference system, which would mean two games a year against teams in your own conference and one each against the clubs from the other conferences.
The coaches overwhelmingly supported retaining 20-minute quarters with time-on, with 15 giving it the tick.
Alternative suggestions included reducing quarters to 17-and-a-half minutes plus time-on, to somewhere between 15 and 17 minutes, and to 100 minutes maximum over four quarters.
Seven coaches said they supported the reintroduction of some form of representative or state of origin football.
Of the seven, opinion was divided as to when it should be played, although somewhat surprisingly, three coaches said it should be played at the end of the season.
There also seemed to be more support for such games if there were fewer home and away matches.
The AFL's new video review system received the thumbs up from the coaches, with 11 giving it a tick, although there were calls for some refinements including more cameras, better angles and better technology.
One coach suggested that the decision be left to the controlling field umpire, with a video review if required.
Eight of the coaches also backed a change to the substitute rule that would allow them to activate their sub immediately while an injured player was being assessed and then de-activated if the injured player was fit to return.
There have been instances this year when teams have been down an interchange rotation while a player has been tested for concussion, a process that can take several minutes.
The AFL is contracted to have 22 rounds for the next four seasons.
Below: How the coaches voted
Get your copy of this week's AFL Record to see how the coaches responded to every question in the 2012 AFL Media/AFLCA Coaches Survey
You can follow AFL Media senior writer Ashley Browne on Twitter @afl_hashbrowne
