THE BAN on players going 'third man up' in the ruck will be discussed at the AFL Laws of the Game Committee meeting on Thursday. 

The discussion is expected to focus on whether asking teams to nominate ruckmen before each contest is beginning to work effectively as players become used to the process or whether it remains a source of confusion.

It will also examine the effect the new rule is having at stoppages and on congestion and clearance rates. 

The new rule caused controversy in round two when Collingwood's Brayden Maynard was penalised for blocking Richmond's Shaun Grigg who had nominated for the ruck. 

Discussion reached fever pitch on Good Friday when North Melbourne's Andrew Swallow gave away a free kick to Bulldog Josh Dunkley after the Kangaroos' midfielder thought Marcus Bontempelli had nominated for the ruck. 

Many commentators have called for the rule to be simplified so a team would be penalised if more than one player competed in the ruck at the same time rather than players needing to nominate. 

However there remains some concern that if players don't have to nominate it will be difficult for ruckmen to know which opponent they should engage with at boundary throw-ins.

The frenzied early season debate appears to have settled down in recent rounds as the competition adjusts to the mechanics of the new rule. 

The deliberate out of bounds rule is also expected to be the subject of discussion, however AFL.com.au understands there is little momentum for a change towards the last possession rule that operates in the SANFL. 

Fewer free kicks have been paid for deliberate out of bounds in the first six rounds this season than were paid in the first six in 2016 – 72 compared to 86 last year. 

The rule was tightened at the end of 2015 when just 22 free kicks were paid in the first six rounds for deliberate out of bounds.

AFL football operations manager Simon Lethlean said on AFL Exchange last week ahead of round six he thought understanding of the new rules, which also includes the tightening of the deliberate rushed behind rule and a new interpretation of head-high tackles, was improving each week.  

"The holding the ball (call) is the hardest. I think the deliberate out of bounds and rushed behinds are starting to take shape. Everyone realises it is going to be harshly interpreted and it is having the right effect keeping the ball in," Lethlean told AFL.com.au. 

Lethlean described the implementation of the new high tackle rule as fantastic, saying players were no longer searching for high contact as they did at times in 2016 and indicated progress was being made on the ruck rule despite the odd early season controversy.

"We have 600-odd stoppages a week with one or two issues and this round [round five] was pretty clear so maybe we are finding our way there."