WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR… LUKE BROWN: The promising young defender played through 2013 with more responsibility than is usually allowed for a player of Brown's development level. He was subsequently benched more than any player at West Lakes to help keep him fresh. Brown's previously admitted he'll look to increase his offensive game next season and will obviously need a stronger fitness base to do so. While he'll have another pre-season behind him, Brown will have to balance his ambition to work off his opponent with the fact he'll be forced to spend longer periods without a break on the interchange bench.

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR… TOM ROCKLIFF: Don't expect too much to change for Rockliff. The Lions vice-captain already spends small spells in the forward 50 where he is a more than valuable weapon. As a junior he played almost exclusively up front and was the Murray Bushrangers' leading goalkicker in their 2008 TAC Cup premiership season. His best work is done in the midfield, but new coach Justin Leppitsch won't be shy in throwing Rockliff forward if the cap becomes an issue.

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR… CHRIS JUDD: It has always been mooted Judd would eventually settle down for more time in the forward line at the end of his career. He's good around goal and has the game sense and body strength to get in the right positions. The rotation cap might force Mick Malthouse's hand to start doing it more in 2014. It will be a juggling act though, because the Blues still require Judd's influence at the stoppages, especially his speed and contested-ball winning ability.


Chris Judd is likely to rotate forward more in 2014 instead of heading to the bench. Picture: AFL Media

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR… DANE SWAN: Unlimited rotations were a boon for the 2011 Brownlow medallist. Short, sharp bursts of brilliance through the midfield, followed, by short breaks on the interchange bench. The Pies will have to be that bit more judicious with Swan going forward thanks to the interchange cap but he showed in 2013 that he can also be damaging playing out of the forward line. He kicked three goals out of just nine for Collingwood in the ill-fated 2013 elimination final defeat against Port Adelaide, so look for Swan to spend more time 'resting' in a pocket than on the bench in 2014.

TOP THREE: David Zaharakis (2013: 168 times, average 8 per game), Jake Melksham (162, 7), Brendon Goddard (147, 6)

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR… DAVID ZAHARAKIS: It means Zaharakis will need to be fitter in 2014 than he was this year. The sharp midfielder entered 2013 with little fitness under his belt after a quad strain, and played only one practice game before round one on the back of a more serious quad tendon tear in 2012. It hindered him throughout the year at stages, and stopped him from running out games on a weekly basis. A full summer campaign will allow Zaharakis to rotate a little less without any hassles.

Geelong

TOP THREE: Joel Selwood (2013 season: 214 times, 2013 average 8.5 per game), Steven Motlop (2013 season: 207, 8.6), Allen Christensen (192, 9)

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR…JOEL SELWOOD: Geelong's skipper already spends almost 90 per cent of games out on the field, so the interchange cap won't have much of an impact on his role. If he is required to spend a fraction more time resting in the forward line, he is already up to speed on that front. Selwood spent quite a bit of time across half-forward during the 2013 season, ending the year with a career-high tally of 30 goals (his previous best was 15).
 

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR… DYLAN SHIEL: Every Giant in the top 10 for most interchanges is a youngster, with seventh-ranked co-captain Callan Ward (140 interchanges) comfortably the oldest at just 23. So if new coach Leon Cameron has to ask any of them to spend more time on the field, it is unlikely to cause a major issue. The concern could be protecting their still developing AFL frames, although Shiel is one of the stronger inside midfielders on their list. The 20-year-old put aside some early injury concerns to play 21 games in 2013 and average just under 20 possessions. He also showed some skills around goals, including a career-best three against the Western Bulldogs in round 15, to show he could catch his breath up forward if required.

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR… JAEGER O'MEARA: On reflection it's remarkable O'Meara was not rotated more heavily during his first season. Coach Guy McKenna admitted the NAB Rising Star winner was tired late in his debut year, but with a raft of injuries, had little choice but to play him. What it did show was that O'Meara could play wing, half-forward and even half-back at a pinch. His numbers won't change too much in 2014, but with the likes of Jesse Lonergan and Jack Martin to come into the midfield mix, O'Meara will get more 'rests' elsewhere on the field.

TOP THREE: Luke Hodge (2013 season: 222 times, average 9.7 per game), Luke Breust (209, 8.4), Brad Sewell (198, 9.4)

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR… JACK TRENGOVE: The cap should be a positive for Jack Trengove. He is a one-paced endurance athlete who can grind opponents into the ground. He should be able to test the opposition late with searching runs up and down the ground. He may be required to play a high half forward role in the mould of Ryan O'Keefe. Trengove has some similar attributes, as he marks well, kicks straight and is brave.

TOP THREE: Jack Ziebell (2013 season: 209 times, average 11.6 per game), Daniel Wells (196, 8.9), Ben Cunnington (192, 9.6)

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR… JACK ZIEBELL: Ziebell's endurance has been a subject of scrutiny throughout his career to date, and will only be magnified under the interchange cap. The big-bodied midfielder will be fully aware of the need to further build his engine during this pre-season, in preparation for longer stints on the field in 2014.

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR…  OLIVER WINES:  Season 2014 shapes as a defining one for the strong-bodied 19-year-old and his workload will increase substantially. ThePower would have liked to have rested him for at least a few games in 2013, but circumstances meant he was needed for all 24 encounters. His lack of time off explains his high interchange numbers though as it was the only way the club could ease the demand on the rookie. He'll have to increase his running capacity substantially this summer but greater midfield depth at Alberton in 2014 could mean Wines is offered a game or two to catch his breath if needed.

How will strong-bodied Power youngster Ollie Wines cope with limited rotations in 2014? Picture: AFL Media 

TOP THREE: Dustin Martin (2013 season: 212 times, average: 9.2 per game), Daniel Jackson (198, 8.6), Trent Cotchin (188, 8.5)

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR… DUSTIN MARTIN: A powerful midfielder like Dustin Martin, who can turn games in influential bursts, will still be prioritised by the Tigers under an interchange cap. However, a strong pre-season to take his game to a new level will be expected. Martin's fitness will be increasingly significant so the 22-year-old can be at the coalface late in games rather than seconded to the forward line. Early in his career, Martin had a tendency to fade through the second half of games and tweaks will be required to his rotation numbers to make sure he remains the consistent midfielder he was in 2013.

TOP THREE: Jack Steven (2013 season: 238 times, average 10.8 per game), David Armitage (211, 10), Leigh Montagna (171, 8.1)

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR… JACK STEVEN: Steven played more than 100 minutes only once in 2013 (against Greater Western Sydney in round three), compared to Nick Dal Santo, who passed the mark 13 times. The challenge for Steven is clear – stay on the park longer and influence the game even more. With Dal Santo gone, Steven will have increased responsibility, and the club champion would presumably have been expected to lift his minutes regardless of his teammate's departure. At 23, he is entering his prime and should be capable of tweaking his rotations to suit the new cap.

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR…  KIEREN JACK: Jack is one of the fittest, best prepared players on the Swans' list. If he is required to spend more time on the field, he is as well placed as just about anyone in the AFL. His running and tackling ability is outstanding, while he has also proven a dangerous small forward, kicking 51 goals over the past two seasons. But he rarely sets up in the forward 50m, so it's likely he would simply have to spend more time in the midfield and floating towards half-forward and rely on his tank to get him through. When he does come off, it would likely be in the middle of quarters, saving him for maximum impact at the start and end of each term.

Western Bulldogs

TOP THREE: Luke Dahlhaus (2013 season: 188 times, 2013 average: 8.5 per game), Koby Stevens (178, 9.4), Tom Liberatore (2013, 7.5)

WHAT THE CAP MEANS FOR… LUKE DAHLHAUS: The young forward will need to build his engine this pre-season, if he is to run out games strongly with the new cap on rotations. He already spends most of his time inside the forward 50, but his frenetic chasing and important pressure acts have caused him plenty of fatigue in games. If Dahlhaus is to add another string to his bow, his engine needs to grow. He is also a viable option to run through the middle should he build the endurance.