COACHES remain divided on the AFL's proposal to restrict the use of runners after being briefed by League CEO Gillon McLachlan at an annual breakfast on Wednesday morning.
McLachlan and football operations manager Steve Hocking hosted AFL Coaches Association CEO Mark Brayshaw and the League's senior coaches at Etihad Stadium to discuss the future of the game.
In a two-hour breakfast meeting that kicked off at 7am, the League also sought feedback on AFLX, which was received positively by the coaches, and discussed restrictions on runners following a trial during the JLT Community Series.
Runners were only allowed to enter the field after goals during the pre-season competition, and needed to be on their way to the bench as the ball was bounced to restart play.
All coaches agreed that runners needed to remain a feature of the game, but they differed on how much access they should be given to the ground.
A ruling on runners is expected next week ahead of the season opener between Richmond and Carlton on Thursday night at the MCG, with a number of scenarios being considered.
One issue raised again by the coaches on Wednesday was the advantage experienced clubs would gain through a restriction on runners, with younger teams more reliant on coaches to adjust during quarters.
Those in the room did not get a sense which way McLachlan and Hocking were leaning on the issue.
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"I think we could potentially find a balance," Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew told AFL.com.au.
"You don't want the runner out there all game, which certainly none of the coaches do … (but) if you have a low-scoring game it's hard to give the players instant feedback.
"I think it would slightly favour the sides that have those on-ground leaders.
"In terms of just getting to your players, I think it's important as a coach that you can talk to your players."
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson were the only senior coaches not in attendance for Wednesday's breakfast.
McLachlan and Hocking also briefed the coaches on a planned committee to oversee all major football decisions, replacing the laws of the game committee and player movement working group.
The committee, which would be chaired by Hocking, was well received by all coaches, who would be represented by on the panel, alongside current players, CEOs and presidents.
McLachlan and Hocking were quizzed on their plans for mid-season trading and drafting, with the coaches anxious to hear more details about how such a player movement period would work.
It is understood all coaches were open to a mid-season player movement period in some form.
The AFL Coaches Association also held its annual general meeting on Wednesday, with Port Adelaide assistant Aaron Greaves winning the 2018 Phil Walsh memorial scholarship.
Greaves, who receives $10,000 in funding for professional development, was judged the winner by premiership coaches Mick Malthouse, Denis Pagan and Mark Williams.
