WESTERN Bulldogs veteran Ben Hudson admits the AFL's decision to cut the number of interchange players down to three is causing concern among AFL ruckmen, who are fearful they will lose their spot in the team.

In 2011, interchange players will be cut from four to three in an attempt to stymie the mass rotations employed by some clubs.

The fourth player on the bench will be a substitute and can only be used if a teammate is taken out of the game. Many experts are predicting the back-up tall man will be expunged from the game as a result.

"Initially all ruckmen become fairly fearful when the rules basically knock one player out of the team because they assume the coaches will get rid of the tallest and slowest bloke," Hudson told westernbulldogs.com.au.

Hudson said the expanded bench in the NAB Cup meant clubs won’t be able to trial a response to the rule change until the early rounds of the home and away season, giving concerned ruckmen even longer to worry about the ramifications of the new rule.

"Some teams might go with a mobile ruckman as the second option," he said.

"I obviously want to keep more ruckmen in the team - the more the merrier. I think different coaches will have different ideas but it will all pan out OK."

While the aim of the new rule is to cut the number of interchanges during matches, Hudson says the Western Bulldogs, who often had 150 rotations during 2010, won't be slowing down in 2011.

"The four blokes on the bench were running on and off the field all the time and now the three blokes will be getting an even bigger workout," he said.

"I think the rotations will have to become more efficient and the players will probably have more control over being able to bring themselves on and off, rather than waiting for the coach to make the call."

More than being left short-handed, Hudson fears getting subbed out of a game during its early stages and getting told all about it by opposition fans.

"I hope they don't make you wear a fluoro outfit so you really stick out," he joked.

"If you're wearing fluoro gear, that will be more reason for the crowd to mock and boo you."

*The NAB Cup Record - on sale in newsagents from February - talks to Rodney Eade about the new rule and discusses its likely impact on the game and its players.