THE AFL should eventually bite the bullet and trial a twilight or night Grand Final, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says.

The four-time premiership coach said he could see no harm in playing a Grand Final in a later timeslot to test its impact, just hours after the AFL announced the 2017 Grand Final would start in its traditional 2.30pm timeslot.

The coach said it would be easy to revert back to 2.30pm if the reaction was negative.

"If you don't change you are never going to know. Maybe it is just exploratory for a year or two.  [There is] nothing like exploring something to see if it works," Clarkson said.

"If it works it could be a bonanza for the AFL and everyone involved in the game. If it doesn't what have you got to lose; just put it back to 2.30pm [start]."

Clarkson said experience suggested that playing big sporting finals at night was a great spectacle and the game would potentially benefit from a change.

"You see some of the sports around the world that have their Grand Finales played at night is a great spectacle and is something that is much better for television, sponsorship and viewership," Clarkson said.

The Hawks have played in five Grand Finals under Clarkson. They also have the best winning record in the twilight slot in the AFL having won 25 from 33 games starting at 4.40pm.