THE JOB of an AFL club runner has never been glamorous.
But now that it is a solo gig – after the AFL limited clubs to one runner in an effort to de-clutter the ground – it is harder than ever.
Each runner covers between 12 and 16 kilometres a game, constantly travelling back and forth between the bench and players.
During quarter-time breaks, while their bodies scream out for a rest, some engage in kick-to-kick sessions with the substitute player.
Others are being given a rest during play, settling for a two-minute break while the messages back up with the bench official on a direct line to the coach.
That person needs to take good notes because messages getting lost in translation is more likely with just one runner operating.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick admitted post-game on Thursday night that the new system sometimes made it hard for the coaches to make a change immediately.
He wasn't complaining, just stating a fact.
Others suggest not much has changed because only one runner has ever been allowed on the ground at one time. Now, however, the coach notices what was previously a hidden lag.
On radio station SEN's Crunch Time program on Saturday morning, Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson suggested the reduction to one runner might assist sides with greater experience in their line-up.
That's a bonus for the top teams and not so great for clubs such as Melbourne, St Kilda, Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast who have young lists.
"The players have to be more tooled up and educated with making decisions themselves on the ground. There were times last night we did not do that as well as what we could but that will be the same with 17 other sides," Clarkson said of his side's narrow win over Essendon in round two.
It's no wonder a coach such as Essendon's Mark Thompson sees his job as providing players with the skills to collectively make good decisions on the ground. He knows no runner can help when the game is tight.
Some suspect a reason interchange rotations fell below expectations in round one was due to players and clubs struggling to adapt to having just one runner.
However most moved closer to the maximum of 120 rotations in the second round.
Although coaches expressed concern when the change was first announced, their response to the reduction has been muted since.
It's changed a few things but no group is more adaptable than coaches. They learn to live with what is, not what might have been.
Sydney Swans coach John Longmire admitted he would prefer two runners in order to reduce the workload on the individual running the messages, but had no concern about the rule's impact on his ability to coach.
"It's a little bit different," Longmire said on Monday. "There's no difference in terms of time on the ground for the runner because the old rule was [that] the runner came off and the other runner came on. The difference is when Nick (Davis, 2005 Swans premiership player) comes off the ground now, rather than grabbing the phone and having a rest he goes straight back."
One club told AFL.com.au that the days of clubs using a runner with average fitness are over. Finding people with football nous and tough hides who can run all day is possible but never easy.
Longmire joked that Davis was unlikely to be a big fan of doing the job on his own.
"His endurance has never been great at the best of times and now he's actually got to run about 16 kilometres," Longmire said. "I don't think he's ever driven 16 kilometres.
"It's a tough challenge for Nick Davis to be the one runner. Any of the changes in the last quarter we didn't get right I'd probably put down to him."
