A CRACKDOWN on AFL runners is expected in 2014 to limit the amount of time on-field officials spend on the ground.
The AFL has become increasingly concerned about the activity of runners and other officials such as trainers during games, with evidence showing runners are spending as much as 90 per cent of game time on the ground.
Runners are also increasingly coming from within football departments, rather than just joining the team on weekends to do the job in a part-time capacity.
It means they are effectively acting as coaches on the ground rather than merely sending messages.
In an era of zone defence and play being compressed into parts of the ground, the extra number can be confusing for players and create a sense that space is limited.
There were several times this season where players inadvertently kicked towards runners or trainers.
AFL football operations manager Mark Evans has flagged with clubs potential ideas to limit the time runners and other on-field officials spend on the ground
He said the League had concerns abut the activity of on-field officials and their impact on play or player movement and has asked club for feedback on the issue.
"I am keen to explore whether we can reduce this impact by limiting the time frame, or the number of times, in which some of the officials are on the arena," Evans told AFL.com.au.
"Given the high number of player rotations through the interchange bench there may not be the need to have some officials on the arena during play."
It might mean reducing the number of runners per team from two to one, or even none, or runners only being allowed on the ground after a goal is kicked.
The AFL increased the number of runners to two in the late ’90s and their activity and focus has changed as players mostly determine when they come on and off the ground.
The first runner was Melbourne's Hugh McPherson who began delivering messages as a trainer under legendary coach Norm Smith in 1954 before the role of runner became League sanctioned in 1955.
