AFL to investigate GWS runner Nick Maxwell over time spent on the field

THE AFL is investigating the actions of former Collingwood skipper Nick Maxwell during GWS’s loss to Carlton on the weekend.

Danny Frawley (left) has called for a crackdown on the amount of time runners spend on the field. Picture: Michael Klein

GREATER Western Sydney runner Nick Maxwell is being investigated for spending too much time on the ground as former coach Danny Frawley called for a crackdown on runners interfering with play.

The AFL has revealed the umpires monitored the time Maxwell spent on the field during the Giants’ clash against Carlton at Etihad Stadium.

Television footage showed Maxwell positioning himself on the edge of the centre square at Carlton kick-ins.

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Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said Maxwell was in the same area at eight kick-ins out of 11.

“I think they (GWS) needs a please explain, and Nick Maxwell needs to be spoken to on the role he’s playing because he’s placed at a particular spot that makes it harder at the kick-in for the Carlton defenders,” Lloyd said on Footy Classified on Monday night.

GWS runner Nick Maxwell is being investigated for staying on the field too long. Picture: Mitch Bear

Runners must be outside the 50m arc at kick-ins.

It is unclear whether the league’s investigation will also look at where Maxwell’s on-field positioning.

Frawley accused Maxwell of intentionally staying on the field too long to block space and coach players.

He also called for time limits to be placed on runners.

“If you actually watch the runners at the moment, they’re just out there far too long. Sprint on, sprint off, (don’t be) out there for five to six minutes at a time,” Frawley said on SEN radio on Monday.

“Simon Lethlean needs to have a look at the game to know what I’m talking about. It’s just not on, make a stand.

Nick Maxwell found himself standing in the zone on eight out of the eleven kick-in's. Was that a GWS tactic? #9FootyClassified pic.twitter.com/un0m8Be3vM

— Footy Classified (@FootyClassified) 12 June 2017

“(Maxwell) is just biting off too much at the moment. He’s out there coaching, telling players where to run.

“The big one that hurt me — and that’s when I thought I can’t watch it any more — Carlton was kicking in, he was right on the centre-square line in the middle, he was actually part of the zone.

“I know the AFL says you can’t go inside the forward 50, but you can’t have them standing in the middle of the ground where the 45 (degree) kick comes in.

“(Maxwell) is doing a great job down there with the leadership, but you can’t have 19 men on the field.”

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said “there are some clubs who would consider where they placed their runner at certain points”.

“We have speculated on it as a coaching group going back over the games,” he said on Channel 9.

In 2014, Geelong runner Nigel Lappin received a $2000 suspended fine for being involved in the last stoppage of a Carlton-Geelong game.

Western Bulldogs runner Rohan Smith copped a $5000 suspended fine in 2011, and Essendon’s John Barnes was fined $2000 in Round 3, 2003 and was hit with a $7500 suspended penalty the following week.