Win for coaches as AFL eases runner restrictions

The AFL has listened to its most vocal senior coaches and will allow them to use runners more than they have since 2018 this season.

Under Steve Hocking's leadership, the league rejected pleas from coaches and outlawed the use of runners for 2019, except after goals.

By the beginning of 2020, the chorus had become loud enough for Hocking to soften his stance. Luke Beveridge, Ross Lyon, Chris Fagan and John Longmire were particularly vocal in opposition to Hocking's stance on runners.

READ MORE: What the Americans said about NRL's Vegas invasion

READ MORE: Broncos confront Leniu in hotel after Mam allegation

READ MORE: Clarkson in hot water after scathing verbal attack

For the last four seasons, the runner was permitted onto the field twice per quarter plus after every goal.

But after extensive consultation with clubs across the summer, it's understood runners will be allowed to deliver messages four times per quarter, plus after every goal, in 2024.

The decision to double the runners allowance will come as a welcome relief to coaches, who have been critical of restrictions imposed on them in the past.

The change means runners will be permitted to deliver messages up to 16 times per game, plus after goals. This returns their impact to roughly 2014-2018 levels. Before 2014, each club had two runners.

Though one was only allowed on the ground at any one time, research was conducted in 2013 which proved that club's had a runner on the field for 90 percent of the game, at times acting as an on-field coach.

At the time, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson said the reduction in runners favoured his experienced team, while other coaches lamented the lack of control.

In recent years runners have not been allowed on the ground in the last three minutes of any quarter to ease congestion. This has now been eased to just the last two minutes.

"Coaches are a bit scared, a bit nude (feeling exposed) from where they've been," Hocking said in 2019.

In recent weeks AFL officials have met with clubs face to face and sought feedback on a variety of key issues.

It's anticipated clubs will be formally informed of this change to regulations as early as Tuesday.