Craig O’Donoghue: Drawn games may be deflating, but the manic chase for victory makes the let down worth it

Drawn games are good for footy.

That might be an unpopular opinion, but after a 2024 where six games have been drawn across the AFL and AFLW, I’m now firmly in the camp that extra-time should be left exclusively for finals because dramatic draws are good for the game.

Essendon and Richmond played out a thrilling draw during the AFLW clash in Darwin on Saturday night. The Tigers levelled the scores with 73 seconds left on the clock which set up the game for a frantic finish where both teams risked losing in an attempt to win.

When Essendon’s Bonnie Toogood took a superb intercept mark about 45m from Richmond’s goal and close to the boundary line with 57 seconds remaining, she didn’t play safe. Toogood took a risk and kicked the ball to the centre square. There’s no way she would have attempted that kick if extra-time was on the horizon. She’d have kicked long down the line and lived to fight another day.

That’s the beauty of a draw. While the siren produces deflation the actual game is filled with desperation..

If we look back on West Coast’s thrilling elimination final win over Port Adelaide in 2017, the Eagles stopped trying to win late in the fourth quarter when scores were level because the ball was down the Power’s end and it made more sense to avoid losing.

While extra-time resulted in Luke Shuey kicking a goal after the siren for an incredible win, the finish to regular time was built around the Eagles using their safety net to flood Port’s forward line. The incentive to attack disappeared.

Compare that to the Anzac Day draw between Essendon and Collingwood this year when both teams kept forwards inside 50 during the dying stages in the hope that they could create an opportunity.

Teams are so well trained to either be in “win the game” or “save the game” mode. When Carlton beat Brisbane by one point in opening round, there were 31 players inside the Lions’ forward 50 late. The Blues wanted stoppages and everyone knew that if they took a mark, they’d ice the clock.

Draws are more exciting than a one-point result because both teams are in win the game mode.

There’s another reason why the game needs to be wary of extra time - TV.

With more Thursday night footy set to be played, weekend matches will largely be played in back-to-back slots instead of crossing over each other. As soon as one game finishes, the broadcast will flick to the next clash. Extra time would likely delay the start of the next game.

That happened in the NBL on Friday night when the Perth Wildcats match started 20 minutes late so the broadcast could focus on the overtime period between Adelaide and Cairns. Players stopped warming up, sat down and and waited. That’s a horrible preparation.

Draws are rare in footy. But they’re memorable and exhilarating. That’s enough reasons to keep them during the home and away season and leave extra-time for finals.