Coaches’ voices heard

AFL ponders easing restrictions on runners

AFL coaches could soon get a reprieve on runner restrictions amid continued debate about the state of the game.

Under the suite of rule changes introduced at the end of last season by football operations boss Steve Hocking, runners are only allowed to come on after a goal has been kicked and must return to the bench before the next centre bounce.

Most of the 18 senior coaches have been strongly opposed to the restrictions, believing it significantly impairs their ability to communicate with players.

Few have been more strident than the Western Bulldogs’ Luke Beveridge, who blasted the idea when it was initially floated ahead of the 2018 season.

Beveridge attended the annual coaches’ dinner hosted by AFL chief Gillon McLachlan this week, and believes the league could look to ease the restrictions.

“We’ve had some mature conversations around the runners since I threw the toys out probably a year-and-a-half ago,” Beveridge said yesterday.

“Steve Hocking has been open to changing again and maybe dropping a couple of opportunities in per quarter. Whether that happens or not I don’t know, but that’s what we’re talking about. That would be great. Whether it influences the scoreline, I’m not sure, but it definitely will please the coaches.”

The runner restrictions were put in the spotlight last month when Sydney superstar Lance Franklin injured his hamstring during a game at the SCG.

Franklin suffered his injury soon after an extended stint on the bench, during which the Swans unsuccessfully tried to bring their four-time Coleman medallist on to the ground.

Overall, scoring has decreased since the introduction of rule changes last season that were intended to open up the game. But Beveridge isn’t overly concerned, saying the changes have also produced plenty of close finishes.

“At Gil’s house the other night, we were talking about scorelines and trying to outperform that magical 100point number that everyone always talks about,” he said.

“I don’t think there’s many coaches who go out and don’t focus on trying to score that much. What’s happened is sophisticated defences are limiting scorelines.

“There’s one or two rules that have changed the game a little bit. But what we’ve got is really great contests where some of them are going to the line more than they ever have.”