VFL CLUB Coburg will be involved in a second rules trial this weekend as the AFL looks to further its research into whether the game needs tweaking ahead of next season.
Saturday's clash between Coburg and the Northern Blues at Preston City Oval will again see the field feature an 18m-long goal square and the "6-6-6" starting position configuration at centre bounces throughout the game.
It follows last Saturday's Coburg-Werribee match in which the same prospective rule adjustments were trialled.
AFL game analysis official James Podsiadly said there were subtle shifts in how that game played out.
"I thought the distribution of players looked a little different, so we'll just analyse that," Podsiadly said afterwards.
"Individually the 6-6-6 allowed the midfielders a bit more time and space, and I think tactically the coaches didn't send the forwards in as hard as what you would see at AFL level.
"From our end, having a look at the goal square and the 6-6-6, the distribution of players did change for a moment in time and then it gets washed out pretty quickly and the strategy happens from there."
The AFL will conduct a survey of Coburg and Werribee players to gain more information about how the trials were received and factored into the game.
There will also be an assessment of data from GPS monitors worn in the game.
The VFL teams being used in the trials are out of finals contention: Coburg is on the bottom of the ladder while the Northern Blues are 13th.