THE NEW ruck rule is proving a challenge for Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge as he tries to adapt his premiership side to life without the 'third man up'.
In 2017, only the two designated ruckmen can compete at a ruck contest, with the AFL outlawing the third man up, a tactic the Bulldogs used so well in their 2016 premiership assault.
Despite defeating Collingwood by 14 points in their opening game of the season, it was clear the Bulldogs struggled to adjust to the new rule.
The Dogs were comprehensively beaten at the stoppages, the Pies wining the clearance count 42 to 25, while the hit-outs were also in their favour, 50-25.
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The Bulldogs, renowned for their contested ball, also fell down in that key area with 26 fewer contested possessions than their opponents on Friday night.
Beveridge said the Bulldogs needed to come to terms with the new rule.
"We haven't got a solution when it's not going that well as far as controlling where that ball goes in the ruck," Beveridge said
"Now it's totally one-on-one. Our rucks had their fair share of hit-outs. But now it's making sure we are reading that better, and our methodology in there is better, because times have changed.
"So as much as we didn't quite adapt as well as we would like to tonight, it was great to see some of our wing, half-back, half-forward types really impose themselves on the game."
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The absence of ruckman Jordan Roughead meant Tom Boyd had to shoulder the bulk of the ruck work, with recruit Travis Cloke helping out on occasion.
Roughead is still at least a month away from a return to football after undergoing surgery on his injured hamstring, while fellow big man Tom Campbell is "underdone" after missing the JLT Community Series with an ankle injury.
Beveridge was pleased with Boyd's efforts against the Magpies but conceded it was a challenge for the 21-year-old to ruck solo.
The premiership coach said he would need to find some "new and innovative ways to get an advantage" as he tries to combat the new rule.
Asked if he thought the ban on the third man up would result in clubs changing recruiting more pure ruckmen, Beveridge wasn't sure that would be the case.
"I don't think so," he said.
"Potentially it can go the other way. Potentially we will give that up. You have a different approach to the game and have your list devoid of ruckmen. That's the other extreme. The game isn't only played around hit-outs.
"Potentially some coaches and list managers will see it that way, absolutely, you might need a bit of a surplus. But you've got to consider the whole game. Removing the second jumper or the third up, definitely doesn't guarantee more ruckmen to be recruited on the list."
