David Bird
25-02-09, 01:14 PM
The AFL will trial the use of a countdown clock at the ground for the remaining matches of the pre-season Cup competition at Telstra Dome.
And fans will be asked for their feedback about the initiative.
The issue has often polarised the football community, including the game's three official broadcasters.
Channel Seven and Foxtel both run countdown clocks on the screen during their coverage, but Channel Ten switches to a count-up clock with five minutes remaining in a match.
Coaching staff of the competing teams at matches have also had access to the clock, but, until now, the AFL has prevented scoreboards at venues from displaying the official time remaining.
"The NAB Cup does enable us to trial different things that may or may not be introduced down the track, and the use of a countdown clock for fans is one area we would like to look at, starting with this Thursday's match between Collingwood and Richmond," said AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson.
"Currently, the television viewer has access to the official time while the coaches, and by extension the players, are aware of the time remaining with a direct link to the official timekeepers.
"The only people in the ground who don't know the exact time remaining in a match are the fans in the crowd.
Full Story (http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/counting-down-clock-to-go-on-trial/2009/02/25/1235237704752.html)
And fans will be asked for their feedback about the initiative.
The issue has often polarised the football community, including the game's three official broadcasters.
Channel Seven and Foxtel both run countdown clocks on the screen during their coverage, but Channel Ten switches to a count-up clock with five minutes remaining in a match.
Coaching staff of the competing teams at matches have also had access to the clock, but, until now, the AFL has prevented scoreboards at venues from displaying the official time remaining.
"The NAB Cup does enable us to trial different things that may or may not be introduced down the track, and the use of a countdown clock for fans is one area we would like to look at, starting with this Thursday's match between Collingwood and Richmond," said AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson.
"Currently, the television viewer has access to the official time while the coaches, and by extension the players, are aware of the time remaining with a direct link to the official timekeepers.
"The only people in the ground who don't know the exact time remaining in a match are the fans in the crowd.
Full Story (http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/counting-down-clock-to-go-on-trial/2009/02/25/1235237704752.html)