Runners spend more than half game on ground

RUNNERS are spending more than 50 per cent of playing time on the ground, giving the AFL more ammunition to remove or restrict them next season.

Fremantle runner and former Dockers’ midfielder Tendai Mzungu spent 17 minutes 14 seconds of the third term on the field in Saturday’s loss to Essendon.

The Herald Sun timed Mzungu’s movements on and off the Fremantle bench in Essendon’s 29-point win at Etihad Stadium.

Runners will be either abolished entirely or only permitted on to the field to pass on prompt messages immediately following goals next season.

But premiership coach Paul Roos said any move to restrict runners would only hurt the younger and lower-placed teams next season.

“(It is) Another rule which will come in to help the better teams,” Roos said on Triple M.

“So if you want to continue to (increase the) gap between the best and the worst teams, restrict the runners.

“The runners are there to educate players.

“The runners are there to help young players if I am coaching a top team, I would be saying ‘Get rid of the runners’ because I know it is huge advantage.”

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan last week publicly questioned whether runners were necessary in the modern game, and supports moves to clear them off the ground.

The AFL confirmed it was looking to make big changes after issuing Sydney with a warning for Jeremy Laidler’s movements in the final two minutes of the Swans’ win over North Melbourne last round.