With benches to be downsized to three players and one substitute from next year, clubs may be encouraged to overlook their second ruckman in favour of a versatile, running player.
Although coach Brad Scott says it is far too early to determine the impact of the rule, North will make room for vice-captain Drew Petrie's return from the broken feet that ruined his 2010 season.
McIntosh and Todd Goldstein formed the competition's most improved ruck combination this year, but were also rotated out of the forward line in Petrie's absence.
"I'm sure that if we're all playing well, we can all fit in the side," McIntosh said. "You can't just play one position now. Goldy and I have managed to go forward.
"Instead of going to the bench, we were rotating from full-forward or the forward pocket and managed to kick a few goals.
"We've got to make sure we practise that at training and improve again next year, so that when the coach picks a side he knows he can throw us both forward and play 80 or 90 per cent on the ground."
The 26-year-old said he was heartened rather than threatened by the emergence of Goldstein, who played 21 games in a breakout year and finished in the top 10 in the club's best and fairest count.
However, he conceded that the first half of his season was below par as he adjusted to Scott's game plan and overcame a shoulder injury suffered in round seven.
"[You have] one coach for eight years and then you've got to get used to a new game plan," he said.
"The pressure and nerves get to you sometimes. I wasn't playing as well as I would have liked but eventually I calmed down and got back to playing the footy that I know I can play in the second half of the year.
"I feel we're two pretty good ruckmen and if Goldy and I can build on this year ... I think we could be one of the best combinations in the league. I'd love to be known as that.
"If you look at the premiership teams in the past ... most of them had two really good ruckmen. I feel Goldy and I can form a pretty good partnership and hopefully that goes a long way to helping the club win its next premiership."
McIntosh said he was troubled by right achilles tendonitis for the last month of the season, and was limited to bike work, cross-training and boxing at the club's high-altitude camp in Utah when it flared again.
He will join his teammates for full training after Christmas.
