NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott has rejected suggestions that runners detract from the spectacle of the game and has emphasised their importance as the League considers reducing their role.

The issue of runners' activity on-field was highlighted this week when Western Bulldogs runner Rohan Smith was captured spending long periods of time on the ground during Friday night's win over Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.

Smith was wearing a Channel Seven microphone and drew attention for the time he spent on the ground and for the nature of his messages, which some construed as on-field coaching.

AFL general manager of football operations Adrian Anderson told The Age on Thursday the League would look to put the issue on the agenda for fans at the end of the season, with potential solutions including reducing the number of runners, limiting their presence or removing them altogether.

"It raises a legitimate question as to whether that's what the game really needs to see," he said.

"When you see footage like [that involving Smith], you also wonder whether that's what fans want to see."

Scott said it would not make sense to remove runners from the game given the importance of a coach's link to his players.

"To suggest we ban runners is just a ridiculous notion based on one isolated incident that was highlighted by TV cameras and having a runner miked up," he said.

"We've got a really unique game and we should protect the unique nature of our game.

"I just wish we'd stop jumping at shadows with these really minor incidents."

Scott said the suggestion they interfered with the spectators' enjoyment of the game was off the mark.  

"I defy anyone who's grown up with AFL football to suggest that they go to the football and watch the runner, or even notice the runner," he said.

"It's such a minor issue and it's a vital coaching tool. What we have that is unique to our game is a continuous free-flowing game.

"Coaches need to get messages out there and they need runners to do that."

He said the alternative to runners being on the ground was to stop the game, which would be an unnatural turn for the sport.

"The alternative is let's have time-outs, and no one wants time-outs," Scott said.

"Runners are still vitally important and a lot of people are commenting on it and they need to ask the people who are actually in the coaches' box.

"Perhaps some of the people who are commenting on it should come and sit in the coaches' box, if they get that opportunity, to find out how often coaches use the runner for tactical messages."

Scott said Smith was clearly in the wrong with the amount of time he spent on the ground but he could sympathise with runners being sent out to deliver lengthy messages.

"It was a clear breach of the rules to me, but I think that's isolated and it's very rare," he said.

"The runner is there to deliver a message but what should be highlighted is quite often I'll give the runner a message such as I'll want our backline to go one-on-one.

"He can't run out and give that one message; he's got to get out to six individual players and give that message.

"Sometimes that can take time but no one notices it. It's only when he's miked up and on prime time TV that people notice.

"It's a non-issue and it should be treated as such."