Just one week after their introduction, the new interchange protocols are ripe for change, according to Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse.

But until the inevitable fine-tuning occurs, Malthouse has said he's prepared to abide by the system that's in place and try to make the best of it.

Malthouse had been highly critical of the rules' introduction with just four days notice and, in light of last week's trial which showed compliance breaches by several clubs, he's apprehensive about going into Friday night's clash with Geelong with no second chances.

"We're first cab off the rank and it’s going to be a very interesting procedure if there's a message by the emergency umpire to the central umpire that someone's mucked up," Malthouse said on Thursday.

"We had more blocks last week off the ground than we did on the ground … but the eagerness of the players to get on the ground sometimes has to be stifled and you've got to be smart about it."

Malthouse suggested the new arrangements which require the names and numbers of players coming on and off the field to be logged on slips of paper, may be quickly superseded.

"There are a lot of opportunities to change things around when you view things first-up," he said

"Maybe it's a microchip. Who needs the paperwork and why can't it be done electronically? And do we really care that Didak's replaced Davis or whether Medhurst has replaced Davis? It shouldn't really be a concern."

"I don't know what they do with their slips of paper and does it count?"

"What can we eliminate that is not necessary information that we need?"

"I'm sure they'll sort that out."

Malthouse conceded however, that there's no point tilting at windmills or fighting City Hall.

"The fact is there's a rule in place, whether we like it or whether we don't - I'm not overly … there's a lot of rules I don’t particularly like but if we break the rules, we've got to suffer the consequences," he said.

"Maybe we need a bit more time but maybe we don't - it's on us now and we've got to live with it."

The AFL football operations department has written to all clubs to remind them that free kick penalties and financial sanctions will apply from this weekend's Round 9 matches for any breaches of the interchange procedures.

Under the rules, a free kick will be awarded if:

* A team has 19 men on the field (this includes a situation where a replacement player enters the playing surface before his team mate has left the playing surface);

* A player enters the field before his interchange is approved by the interchange steward;

* A player does not enter or leave the playing surface through the interchange area (previously he was disqualified from participating in any of the remainder of the match).

The field umpire is now able to award a free kick from wherever play was stopped or the centre circle, whichever is the greater penalty. A 50m penalty would then be applied.

Clubs have been issued with a range of hypothetical scenarios that have been compiled from queries seeking clarification since last week.

The key fact for all clubs and players at all times is that any player entering or exiting the field must go through the interchange gate.

For any free kick that is paid, the procedure will be that the emergency umpire or bench umpire will blow his whistle and stop the game, enter the field of play inform the central umpire that an infringement has occurred.

The closest field umpire to play with implement the free kick and 50-metre penalty.