Runners: Less Time on Ground

[Magnus the Magpie]

Bit in the Hun today about a proposed new rule whereby runners will only be allowed on the ground after a goal is kicked. Excellent imo - we are the only game in the world that allows so many extras on the ground during play and, with the number of interchanges we have (plus the number of goals kicked), there is plenty of opportunity for coaches to relay their messages to players and for the players themselves to top up their water intake.

More importantly, I've long been infuriated at the way so many of these guys manage to get themselves in the way, hang around the edges of packs and generally make nuisances of themselves (think John Barnes at Essendon as a stand-out example). Nevertheless, expect the predictable outcry from players and coaches.

 

[Swooop]

Great move IMO aswell

They annoy me completely when they just hang around and 'coach' out there.

Well done AFL if this goes through.

 

[StillWaiting5689]

good idea, don't think it will make much of a difference though.

 

[bushpie]

at first I thought.... stop tinkering with the darn rules coz at times our runners are very useful people. Of course all the opposition teams runners are a disgrace to the game.....

But after more thought........ and yes given the high rotations in the game there is hardley a need for them at all these days. So yes some limitations could be good.

 

[Soul_Pie]

Great news.

The sooner they're gone the better in my view.

 

[blaze036]

Great news.

The sooner they're gone the better in my view.

Then the bad players would take the role of runners...

 

[Lockyer24]

Two thumbs up

Some scummy clubs were using it as a cheating tactic to block space

 

[PepperFace]

This is a good move by Vlad. I dont even understand the need to have 2 runners. One runs off while the other runs on.....if the players are that stupid they need to be told where to run/stand/kick etc all the time, they shouldnt be in the AFL system

 

[DaVe86]

This has been one I've been banging on about for a while.

I don't like when the AFL tinkers with things that don't need it. But the runner situation is a definite issue in the game that needs attention.

Runners now pretty much just stay on the ground and act as onfield coaches. Gone are the days when they get a message from the coach, run it out to the players and come back off. Nowadays they are used much more strategically.

They stand in holes, and coach during the play.

The rule should be that there is 1 runner, allowed on only 2 minutes at a time. He is also not allowed to stand in the one place on the field. He can't just become an extra number in defence for example.