North Melbourne star Shaun Higgins has declared the focus needs to be on clean ball use - as opposed to pace - when clubs unveil their line-ups for next month's AFLX exhibition series.
As AFL clubs grapple with how to handle a format held on a rectangular field with seven players per team on the ground (plus three on the bench), Higgins and the Kangaroos on Friday cast Melbourne's extreme heat aside to work on style and tactics at Arden Street.
The Roos trialled the format last summer and their thoughts on what will be required to succeed in the round-robin competition have changed.
"It's funny, because last year we thought it was purely the running sort of player (that AFLX suited) but I think the skills are really important," Higgins said.
"We saw some of our big guys today have really good games and affect the game, because we were able to hit-up as well and take marks.
"At the end of the day, it's still footy, so the best players will be the best players at AFLX."
AFLX is fast-paced with two 10-minute halves but searching kicks from deep in defence, as Kangaroos' ruckman Braydon Preuss demonstrated, can also provide drive.
"It's 10 minutes of end-to-end running, so the high-end running numbers are really high. Much higher than a usual match," Higgins said.
"Scotty Thompson was very impactful. He was playing fullback and kicked four goals. Braydon Preuss was bombing them the length of the ground. That shows you're always in the game."
That goals converted from outside 40 metres are worth 10 points should also mean teams trailing will remain in the contest.
The Kangaroos have been grouped with Essendon, Carlton, St Kilda, Melbourne and Hawthorn for the Melbourne leg of the series, held on February 16 at Etihad Stadium.
Defender Marley Williams has joined the main group in pre-season training for the first time since having surgery on his shoulder and back. The former Magpie had enjoyed a strong maiden season with the Roos before a back problem forced him to the sidelines after the loss to the Western Bulldogs in round 14.
Williams said he was not yet back to full fitness but hopes to be come the JLT pre-season matches.
Meanwhile, Essendon forward Travis Colyer is likely to be sidelined for up to three weeks because of inflammation in the sesamoid bone in his right foot. Colyer, who played 22 matches last season, is in a moon boot, with Dons high performance manager Justin Crow hopeful that will ease the problem.
Key defender Michael Hurley continues to step up his return from wrist and hip surgery, and has joined in match play.
