gotta love the countdown clock

[bayman]

No, they countdown to the end of 90 mins and then display how much injury time there is

not when i watch it they start at 0 minutes finish at 45 minutes plus extra time, then start at 45 minutes & end at 90 minutes plus injury time, so to me that is counting 0-90 NOT 90-0

[Wedgie]

I think our sport is almost a laughing stock wtih the time on secret finishing time.
The coaches, timekeepers and even players know how much time is left, why the hell can't the spectators
If you think the spectre of not knowing when the game will finish adds to the spectacle why not blindfold yourself so you can't see what's going on to add a bit more unknown?
Or perhaps just completely eliminate the scoreboard, not knowing the true score till you read the paper the next day, now that will add suspense!
Hopefully we'll move out of the 19th century with this one soon but I doubt it as there's too many stubborn dinosaurs with no common sense involved with the game.

[Dutchy]

agree entirely, be a good move to upgrade all the clocks at out grounds also, some are shockers!

[bayman]

I think our sport is almost a laughing stock wtih the time on secret finishing time.
The coaches, timekeepers and even players know how much time is left, why the hell can't the spectators?
If you think the spectre of not knowing when the game will finish adds to the spectacle why not blindfold yourself so you can't see what's going on to add a bit more unknown?
Hopefully we'll move out of the 19th century with this one soon.

put it this way if as a player you know there is (& i know they get told these days) that there is 30 seconds left you'd think we can't win but if you didn't know you would believe you could still win (in a less than 1 goal margin game) and somehow conjure a win....i've seen port do it to all teams over the years

[Wedgie]

I think our sport is almost a laughing stock wtih the time on secret finishing time.
The coaches, timekeepers and even players know how much time is left, why the hell can't the spectators?
If you think the spectre of not knowing when the game will finish adds to the spectacle why not blindfold yourself so you can't see what's going on to add a bit more unknown?
Hopefully we'll move out of the 19th century with this one soon.

put it this way if as a player you know there is (& i know they get told these days) that there is 30 seconds left you'd think we can't win but if you didn't know you would believe you could still win (in a less than 1 goal margin game) and somehow conjure a win....i've seen port do it to all teams over the years

That's a ridiculous argument as you could argue the opposite.
You think there's only seconds left and the ball is at full back so you give up on the game, if there was a countdown clock which showed you still had a couple of minutes left you'd maintain interest knowing you still had a hope.

So you're saying its a good thing that people have false hope?
Perhaps I might just get my employer to put random amounts of money in my bank account on payday so I can have a hope its largish amount.
Perhaps next time you take the car to the mechanic get him to not tell you if he fixes it or not so you can have some enjoyment out of not knowing what is going to happen when you're driving it home.

[bayman]

not ridiculous it is my opinion just like you have yours i like the tradition of not knowing, i don't want the game more sanatised than what it is

[Wedgie]

not ridiculous it is my opinion just like you have yours i like the tradition of not knowing, i don't want the game more sanatised than what it is

It is ridiculous if there isn't one logical reason it remains as is.
I haven't encountered one yet.

[bayman]

not ridiculous it is my opinion just like you have yours i like the tradition of not knowing, i don't want the game more sanatised than what it is

It is ridiculous if there isn't one logical reason it remains as is.
I haven't encountered one yet.

ok what makes it wrong to leave it as it is ?

[Wedgie]

not ridiculous it is my opinion just like you have yours i like the tradition of not knowing, i don't want the game more sanatised than what it is

It is ridiculous if there isn't one logical reason it remains as is.
I haven't encountered one yet.

ok what makes it wrong to leave it as it is ?

Simple, its a ridiculous concept that spectators dont know exactly what's going on, especially when players or those sitting in a certain spot of the grandstand or those listening to the radio sometimes do.
Having a clock give us an approximate idea is ridiculous and illogical, might as well as give us an approximate scoreline.
There is no logical reason why it should stay as is.

Soccer is different because the game finishes when the referree thinks in his mind the correct amount of time is up, that is not the law in Australian Rules Football, the game is up when the exact amount of time has elapsed, we'd be the only sport in the world that doesn't display exactly how much time has gone or is left.
It'd be like leaving the overs off the scoreboard in cricket or even more stupidly giving an approximate display.
This is the 40 something over folks.
Dumb Dumb Dumb

[johntheclaret]

Interesting debate.

Personally, I would prefer the Aussie Rules style of time keeping where the clock is stopped during stoppages and you get your full quota of play. Not letting everyone know how much time there is, is a bit pointless imo, but the concept of having independant time keepers and stopping the clock for stoppages is very sound.

I am totally against the ref having this arbitrary right to decide how much time he will or won't add on. And by not adding time on for stoppages justs encourages time wasting. Feigning injuries etc.

Look at the stats for some EPL games. In 90 minutes of soccer, you might get only 40 minutes of actual play. how can you call that value for money. If you want to see the game out by wasting time, at least in Aussie Rules, you have to play "keep ball" and can't rely on so called injuries.

[Pseudo]

I for one like the clock counting up. Having only a vague idea about how much time is left does add a bit more suspense to a tight game. Don't reckon I'm alone in this; why else does the countdown clock disappear at the 5 minute mark in closely-scoring televised AFL games? Suggesting that those of us who like suspense should ignore the clock is missing the point; having no idea of the time is not the same as having a vague idea.

[topsywaldron]

I for one like the clock counting up. Having only a vague idea about how much time is left does add a bit more suspense to a tight game. Don't reckon I'm alone in this; why else does the countdown clock disappear at the 5 minute mark in closely-scoring televised AFL games? Suggesting that those of us who like suspense should ignore the clock is missing the point; having no idea of the time is not the same as having a vague idea.

Agreed.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Look at the stats for some EPL games. In 90 minutes of soccer, you might get only 40 minutes of actual play.

And 5 minutes of that is watchable.

[therisingblues]

I think our sport is almost a laughing stock wtih the time on secret finishing time.
The coaches, timekeepers and even players know how much time is left, why the hell can't the spectators
If you think the spectre of not knowing when the game will finish adds to the spectacle why not blindfold yourself so you can't see what's going on to add a bit more unknown?
Or perhaps just completely eliminate the scoreboard, not knowing the true score till you read the paper the next day, now that will add suspense!
Hopefully we'll move out of the 19th century with this one soon but I doubt it as there's too many stubborn dinosaurs with no common sense involved with the game.

So in your opinion anyone who thinks the "time on concept" adds to the suspense of Aussie Rules should just stay at home and read the results in the paper rather than enjoy the thrill of going to the game because in your mind time keeping and any understanding of a game in progress amounts to the same thing, and anyone who disagrees with you is a stubborn dinosaur with no common sense.
Well Bang a gong Wedgie, just call me T-Rex!
What a load of twaddle!

[Hondo]

why else does the countdown clock disappear at the 5 minute mark in closely-scoring televised AFL games?

Only Ch 10 do that. And it's for all their games, not a tactic to raise the suspense in close games.

Ch 7 and Fox (pretty sure re Fox) always do a count-down clock.

When Ch10 do the 5 minute warning (and it's close and I'm emotionally involved in the outcome) I just get out the stop watch anyway. I get it pretty close most times. So they may as well just show it and be done with it IMO.

Pretty pointless pretending no-one knows the time left when they go and show the coaches leaving the box with 10 seconds left.

[Wedgie]

So in your opinion anyone who thinks the "time on concept" adds to the suspense of Aussie Rules should just stay at home and read the results in the paper rather than enjoy the thrill of going to the game

Yep, they might as well using any logic they've argued so for this concept, it'd add to the suspense which they seem to enjoy more rather than what's actually going on.
I don't understand them either mate, no logic and makes absolutely no sense.
Only thing I can think of is some people just don't like change and they were the dinosaurs I was referring to.
I can understand that, lots of people are like that in all walks of life.

[therisingblues]

I think our sport is almost a laughing stock wtih the time on secret finishing time.
The coaches, timekeepers and even players know how much time is left, why the hell can't the spectators?
If you think the spectre of not knowing when the game will finish adds to the spectacle why not blindfold yourself so you can't see what's going on to add a bit more unknown?
Hopefully we'll move out of the 19th century with this one soon.

put it this way if as a player you know there is (& i know they get told these days) that there is 30 seconds left you'd think we can't win but if you didn't know you would believe you could still win (in a less than 1 goal margin game) and somehow conjure a win....i've seen port do it to all teams over the years

I have a similar example to this. I know I have told this story many times on these forums, but there was a game at the Bay between Sturt and Glenelg, back when McGuiness was coaching. Glenelg were up by less than a goal and attempted to play possession football for the final two minutes of the game. Everyone watching thought Sturt were gone, when's that siren going to sound? The game just seemed to keep on going!
Somehow Sturt affected a turnover, 20 seconds later Bruce Lennon stolled into an open goal, 1 second after the restart the siren went. That turnover happened with less than 30 seconds on the clock! With every pass the Blues made in that final piece of play, Sturt supporters all around me were screaming to just kick it long and have a shot!! Bays supporters were screaming to just blow the bloody siren! It was pandemonium in the crowd. That unknown factor definitely raised the suspense. Now imagine if there was a big corny countdown clock like in basketball. While the Bays still had the ball there is a huge likelihood that the Glenelg supporters would have been counting down with the clock "25...24..23..etc" (I've seen Crows crowds doing it, and it makes me cringe) that Bays player with the ball would have known exactly how much time was left and probably would have done anything rather than pass it sideways to a team mate just a few yards away. A long bomb to the goal front would have definitely saved it under those circumstances. The unknown time remaining must have added pressure to the player with the ball, it definitely worked magic through the crowd, supporters of both clubs all about me were shitting themselves!

[Hondo]

Yeah but Theri, these days the players know so we'll never see a repeat of your example

That's Wedgie's point

[Wedgie]

Now imagine if there was a big corny countdown clock like in basketball. While the Bays still had the ball there is a huge likelihood that the Glenelg supporters would have been counting down with the clock "25...24..23..etc" (I've seen Crows crowds doing it, and it makes me cringe) that Bays player with the ball would have known exactly how much time was left and probably would have done anything rather than pass it sideways to a team mate just a few yards away. A long bomb to the goal front would have definitely saved it under those circumstances. The unknown time remaining must have added pressure to the player with the ball, it definitely worked magic through the crowd, supporters of both clubs all about me were shitting themselves!

Your argument is irrelevent as in close games the players know exactly how much time is left these days, the coaching staff knows and conveys that to them.
Perhaps we should alternate the amount of quarters each game and not tell the players how many there will be, now that will really add to the suspense at the end of every quarter.
Whilst on that train of thought why not get the SANFL to not worry about a fixture next year and just tell us approximately which days and where the games might be, imagine the enjoyment we'd all get out of guessing it right and seeing a game of footy.
Now THAT would add to that game.

[Wedgie]

Yeah but Theri, these days the players know so we'll never see a repeat of your example

That's Wedgie's point

Now now Hondo, don't bring any logic to the discussion.