The new interchange rotation cap could benefit North's midfield group and add a level of unpredictability in the forward line this season, midfield coach Josh Drummond says.
The interchange cap has been reduced to 90 rotations per game this year, down from 120, which will see players spend longer stints on the field and longer spells on the bench.
Drummond said the restrictions would allow North's onballers to feature in attack on more occasions this season.
"The way the rotations are now, it's a bit harder to run blokes on and off (the ground) … but it plays to our strengths because a lot of our midfielders can go forward and be real handy," Drummond told NMFC.com.au on Wednesday.
"(Jack) Ziebell, (Ben) Cunnington have gone forward and kicked bags of goals in the past. Guys like 'Wellsy' [Daniel Wells] can play forward and midfield, 'Higgo' [Shaun Higgins] is someone who can get up … along with (Nick) Dal Santo and Jed Anderson.
"We're just looking to be flexible there to give the opposition some different looks and play to our strengths."
The recent NAB Challenge series saw clubs trial the interchange rule, with the Roos getting genuine in-game practice of the new conditions in the final game against Hawthorn.
Drummond acknowledged it would take some time to become fully accustomed to the reduced cap.
"I'm tipping everyone's still learning to find the right balance with that so we've still got a lot to learn," he said.
"I'm sure we'll learn a lot of things in the first six weeks of the year, as all the clubs will, because we've only really had one or two games of having a crack at it and practicing it."
Ziebell said he did not expect much to change with the new rule from a player's perspective, but said it would allow he and his fellow ball-winners to feature more up forward when required, echoing Drummond's thoughts.
"We talked about it as a group as inside midfielders – myself, 'Cunners' [Cunnington], 'Spitta' [Andrew Swallow], and those types of guys – we'll play the majority of the time in the midfield," Ziebell said.
"But obviously (with) the interchange cap, at times there'll be time for less rotations so that'll probably mean guys spending a little bit more time forward.
"We've done a lot of work in the pre-season on our fitness levels targeting a different energy system that we use and making sure we can run out a game pretty well."
Meanwhile, Drummond said Adelaide's midfield could not be underestimated at Etihad Stadium this Saturday night despite the absence of star onballer Patrick Dangerfield, who joined Geelong in last year's trade period.
"They've lost Dangerfield, who's a quality player, but (Paul) Seedsman comes in, (Rory) Atkins is a young player who is going well, (Brad) Crouch comes in off his injury layoff, Matt Crouch looks like he's improved, and Scott Thompson and Rory Sloane are stars," he said.
"If we take them lightly, which I know we won't, we'll get out pants pulled down."
