TOPIC:

How the hell would I know as I don't sit there with a stop watch on the umps? All I know is it takes time to run the ball back out to the centre square after a goal, players to get into 6 6 6, and then the umps to preen themselves before bouncing the ball. Then it normally pans out that ball was bounced incorrectly, players have to re-set then the thing gets thrown up. It all takes time meanwhile the scoreboard clock keeps ticking.

wrote:

How the hell would I know as I don't sit there with a stop watch on the umps? All I know is it takes time to run the ball back out to the centre square after a goal, players to get into 6 6 6, and then the umps to preen themselves before bouncing the ball. Then it normally pans out that ball was bounced incorrectly, players have to re-set then the thing gets thrown up. It all takes time meanwhile the scoreboard clock keeps ticking.

I specifically did not include the time taken by the boundary umpires to return the ball to the field umpire in the centre.

one reason could well be that more goals are being kicked so this naturally means more time-on by nature - it's been refreshing to see across the board 
Maybe we shall see shorter quarters once wintry wet conditions arrive