As all AFL clubs put plans in place to adjust to the new ruck rules, Richmond is set to get “creative” with how it supports captain Toby Nankervis and the refreshed adjudications.

The Tigers got their first exposure to the updated ruck guidelines in last Friday’s pre-season clash with Essendon. At all centre ball-ups, competing rucks will now be unable to cross the centre line before engaging with their opposition ruck. In a further change, umpires can now restart play without a nominated ruck being present.

Speaking after the Bombers game, Richmond assistant coach Sam Lonergan explained how the Club is using the pre-season matches as important data points on how to best take advantage of the new rule.

“Certainly from a midfield point of view, we'll continually look to grow and evolve with the rule over the early part of the season, and these trial games, and try and work out the best way for our ruckmen to combat other ruckmen with their strengths and what advantage we might have over them,” Lonergan told SEN.

“That'll be a moving beast over the first sort of six to eight weeks.”

Captain Nankervis will once again lead the Tigers’ ruck department, with Samson Ryan and Oliver Hayes-Brown continuing to develop.

A number of Richmond’s young key forwards could also potentially be used as back-up rucks, with Lonergan explaining the mindset towards both supporting Nankervis, and adapting to the updated regulations.

“We've tried things over the years. Sort of mindful that our key forwards are still quite young, and how much do we expose them to secondary ruck rolls, all those types of things have got to come into consideration with some young key forwards,” he said.

“I think we'll be quite creative with how we support Toby and also exposing some of those young key forwards in the ruck to a loading level that we think is safe for them, and their future.”

The Tigers' pre-season continues on Friday afternoon with an AAMI Community Series clash against the Demons.