Adelaide Leadership Development Manager Dan Jackson has incorporated being a runner for the Crows into his role since landing at West Lakes in 2020.

And although Jackson, who retired from playing AFL at the end of 2014, enjoys it, there are aspects of relaying messages from coaches to players in-game that can be tough.

“I think if anyone thinks they’re going to influence the game as the runner, they’re trying too hard,” Jackson said on this week’s episode of The Crows Show.

“But I’ve got a role to play and take it pretty seriously.

“Choosing which message to run as the runner is probably the hardest part of the job.

“Early on in my runner career, back in 2020, I went verbatim quite a few times and I got a few looks of shock back from players.

“Now I’ve learnt to interpret with Mick Godden, Nicksy’s messages that come down to the bench.

“I think Nicksy worked out my main strategy - if I wasn’t really comfortable delivering the message then I hovered around on the boundary line to make it a little bit easier.”

Under AFL rules, runners are only allowed on the field mid-game after a goal is kicked and twice per quarter.

But that doesn’t mean you don’t need to be fit to be a runner these days.

“All the old war-horse runners from 10 years ago plus, they talk about stories of running 10 or 12km in a game, which would’ve been great, it would’ve been a good way to get the fitness in for the weekend,” Jackson said.

“After goals are scored, it’s only 45 seconds, so if the coaches are too slow to get the message down on the phone, it leaves me even less time.

“Then if they say I need you to get to Tex, and tell him this, and then tell Buttsy this, I have to sprint 150m down one end, sprint down to the other end and then get back before I get penalised.

“So it’s high-speed work, not volume.”

Jackson also revealed the player he enjoyed delivering messages to the most.

“I do enjoy going out to Riley Thilthorpe when he’s up and about,” Jackson said.

“He always has a big smile on his face and he loves reminding himself to have fun and that’s a message I’m pretty happy to deliver.”

Also on The Crows Show this week, Adelaide Senior Coach Matthew Nicks gives his mid-season report card and fans will be given an insight into how players pass the time during away games. 

The Crows Show airs on Channel 7 on Saturday at 12.30pm.