RUNNERS will not be allowed within 25 metres of a stoppage as part of an AFL crackdown.
They will not be allowed within the 50-metre arc during stoppages and will be expected to be off the ground as the ball is bounced to restart play after a goal.
The directions come less than a fortnight after Carlton's Mitch Robinson pushed Geelong runner Nigel Lappin at a stoppage near the Blues' goal in the dying seconds of a close Friday night game which the Cats held on to win.
Despite Carlton coach Mick Malthouse complaining about the incident on the night, umpires boss Wayne Campbell said a free kick was not warranted, as the Geelong runner had not impacted play and the contact came well before the ball had been bounced.
Lappin received a suspended $2000 fine last Thursday, but the AFL said Lappin had not intended to impact play.
Runners also met with members of the AFL football operations department last Wednesday to discuss their role.
After assessing that feedback and responses from all clubs on runners, football operations manager Mark Evans sent a revised set of guidelines for runners to AFL clubs on Wednesday.
The following conditions will now apply:
- When the football is bounced to start a quarter or recommence play after a goal, runners must either be off the playing arena, or in the process of exiting the playing arena.
- If a runner is on-field when a stoppage occurs, they must not position themselves within 25m of the stoppage.
- Runners must not position themselves inside the 50m arc for any inside 50m stoppage (runners must vacate the 50m arc, or clearly be in the process of vacating the area, prior to the ball up or boundary throw in).
- A runner is permitted to deliver messages from the coach, but is not permitted to instruct, direct or coach players on "in-play" situations.
- A runner must leave the ground immediately when directed to do so by an umpire.
Evans said the main intent of the changes was to ensure runners did not interfere with players or umpires when around congestion.
Under AFL law 12.18, the AFL has the power to issue guidelines relating to the conduct of team runners from time to time.
At the end of last season, Evans indicated the AFL was keen to reduce on-field clutter, and the number of runners per team was reduced to one.
