AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan opens up on the discussion around half-time length

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has labelled the criticism around the League's handling of the half-time length discussion as "very unfair."

Reports emerged over the off-season that the AFL was looking at reducing the length of the main break, possibly from 20 to 10 minutes.

The idea had been floated as a way to shorten overall game length with the intention of losing less television viewers in the second halves of matches.

Though it was confirmed on Saturday that there would be no change for the 2020 season.

Subsequent commentary around the issue has seen the AFL criticised, with Garry Lyon suggesting the discussion was a 'kite-flying' exercise to gauge public reaction.

"It went to the stage where the players backed it, some of the coaches came out and said yeah, and it was almost accepted that we were going to have a 15-minute half-time break," said on SEN.

"Then they say by the way, we’re not doing it ... it's kite flying."

McLachlan appeared on SEN on Wednesday morning and defended the AFL's handling of the situation.

"I reckon (the critisicm is) very unfair," McLachlan said.

"It came up that our audience drops off about 15 or 20 per cent on ratings during the half-time period and also feedback that it's long for families and kids.

"In a world where people have less attention spans, can we reduce half time?"

The League chief said the matter, which players had already supported, was one of many raised at a conference with club CEOs and coaches, with the consensus being "they'd love to shorten it."

From there, McLachlan said that particular issue was leaked to the media, sparking the wider discussion around it.

However, McLachlan said one of the broadcasters, believed to be Channel Seven, flagged the commercial ramifications of reducing the half-time break, seeing the proposal scrapped.