another grub wrote:Personally i don't think he does a lot of coaching out there, you can hardly hear him, its more signals etc. If port are pushing the limit with the time he spends out there then why aren't other clubs doing it? How many new messages is he missing by being out there that long. Mountain out of a molehill.
I reckon at all levels of footy - amateurs up I've heard club bitch and moan about how long the opposition runner is out there since day dot, and in most cases most clubs are guilty of it - if its really a crime. If its a real problem, then rules should be written around it, and acted upon by umpires. If its not a problem, then all clubs are free to work within the rules.
Sometimes runners are held up by play, or have multiple messages to deliver, but at least at AFL level (and maybe SANFL) it may be possible to control by having a timer go when the runner enters the field, and a time limit they have to be off under, with a strike system - x strikes and a free is given away etc. Ie they have 3 minutes to get on and off. .... of course that's if it really is a problem, and not just another reason for clubs to whinge.
I must admit the comment above about not condoning racism, but then proceeding to defend racism was a little over the top, along the lines of .... "I don't condone racism ..... but he was on the ground too long, the supporters were frustrated so its probably ok" ...