(Image: Getty)

AFL footy operations manager Simon Lethlean has said runners may be scrapped from the game if the coaches decide they no longer need them.

The runners have come under a bit of heat this week, with GWS runner Nick Maxwell coming under investigation for suggestions on on-field ‘coaching’.

Lethlean said on Triple M's pre-game coverage of West Coast/Geelong the media has made more of a fuss about it than the AFL has.

“Certainly the media’s made a bigger deal of the runners than what we have,” he said.

“We always have discussions with clubs about runners and their activities across the course of rounds.”

However, Lethlean did say if the clubs decide they no longer need runners, the AFL will be “happy to remove” them from the game.

"Runners are there to serve the clubs and the coaches. (We’re) happy to have a conversation with the coaches in the coming weeks about whether they are up for some variation about limiting time on the ground, removing runners altogether or having stricter guidelines,” he told Triple M.

“They’re there to service the clubs, they’re not there to service the AFL, so happy to have a good discussion with them about that and if they (want us to) make tighter regulations, we’ll be happy to.

“It’s been contemplated in the past…if the collective coaching fraternity no longer need runners out there, we’d be happy to remove people from the field, so happy to have that discussion and see where it heads.”

With the Maxwell story, Lethlean said GWS has told the AFL they have received mixed messages on the permitted behaviour of runners.

“The bigger issue probably is that runners are not there, or permitted to be there, for coaching instructions, they’re there to deliver messages and that’s certainly one discussion we had with the Giants,” he said.

“They’ve said they’ve had varied information from match day managers…I think the best spot to stand is in the boundary line and wait to come on, personally. We’ve certainly expressed that view to the clubs, so I guess we’ll watch how they react this week and keep monitoring it.”

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