THE number of times a player goes "third man up" at stoppages has increased dramatically in the past two seasons as the AFL prepares to discuss the tactic with coaches at Friday's annual laws summit. 

Statistics show that a third man contested 13.2 per cent of stoppages in 2016 and 12.8 per cent of stoppages in 2015, a dramatic increase from about eight per cent in the previous four seasons.

The tactic has been put on Friday's agenda after discussion on the issue last season failed to reach a consensus, with many considering the tactic was beneficial in clearing congestion.

However, with no apparent link between hit-outs to advantage and clearances and the potential for increased injury to ruckman, the need to allow the tactic has been questioned. 

One assistant coach told AFL.com.au he thought players were best placed to determine whether the tactic was acceptable as welfare issues were a significant factor.

In February, Dockers coach Ross Lyon raised the issue again when his star ruckman Aaron Sandilands was suspended for a high bump after Richmond's Ben Griffiths approached the ruck contest to go "third man up" in a pre-season game. 

Other clubs have been concerned at times at the exposure of ruckmen to opponents jumping in as the "third man up" with umpires also finding it hard to umpire contests where players try to block opponents wanting to be the third man contesting the ruck. 

Geelong, St Kilda and Fremantle led the way in 2016 with the Cats and Saints taking advantage of their multiple big man options while the Dockers tried to cover for the loss of Sandilands to injury.

The Cats' ruckman/midfielder Mark Blicavs goes "third man up" more often than any other player in the competition, with Port Adelaide youngster Ollie Wines and Melbourne recruit Jordan Lewis also exponents.  

The athletic Blicavs has almost doubled the next best player for being "third man up" at ruck contests in the past two seasons as the Cats led the competition in the practice. 

Blicavs went "third man up" on average six times a game in 2016, after being "third man up" 4.8 times in 2015, outstripping Wines who averaged three third man hit-outs in 2016 and Lewis who averaged 2.5 in 2015.

Melbourne will benefit from Lewis' experience around the stoppage with statistics showing the Demons suffered the second most successful "third man up" attempts from opponents in 2016 as they tried to counter All Australian ruckman Max Gawn.  

Clubs will be watching the discussion closely with their ruck needs constantly changing.

The Western Bulldogs' premiership-winning ruck combination this season was Jordan Roughead and Tom Boyd, both developing as ruckmen despite entering the AFL as key position players.

Statistics supplied by Champion Data