ONE OF the popular debates of Australian football is about to re-open: should there be a countdown clock at matches?

Even the broadcasters can't agree, with some using it and others keeping people in the dark.

But for every NAB Cup match at Telstra Dome in the next three weeks, the countdown clock will be on the board.

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the clock would be directly linked to the official timekeepers, meaning play will be counted down in each quarter.

It will also count down the quarter time, half time and three-quarter time breaks.

"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," Anderson said.

"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.

"There are two distinct views – one that a supporter should be able to know the time remaining, and the other that the suspense of not knowing when the siren will sound adds to the tension of a close game."

The League has asked fans to provide feedback on the trial either in writing or via the survey exclusive to afl.com.au.

"We particularly want the views of those fans who have been at the matches where the trial has operated," Anderson said.

Click here to have your say on the countdown clock trial.

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