MELBOURNE midfielder Cameron Bruce believes new interchange system will be "annoying" to get used to, but has thanked the AFL for at least giving clubs a week of grace before penalising them for infringing against the new rules.

Bruce said the Demons found it difficult to get used to but had accepted the concept - which involves the creation of a holding area around the interchange gates and the introduction of stewards – was here to stay.  

"It was a little bit annoying having to go through such a strict procedure, but I guess it's what's in place now," Bruce said on Monday.

"It's good that we had a bit of a trial weekend and hopefully got rid of any little teething problems.

"Hopefully the guys will get it right this weekend and there won't be any free kicks against us.

"It is definitely something we have to get used to and it is a little bit different to what we've previously experienced."

Bruce said there was generally little confusion among his teammates as they rotated on Sunday but there were a few instances where interchanges were held up as the stewards completed the necessary paperwork.

"There were a couple [of times] where handing the piece of paper over to the interchange steward, there was a bit of: 'has it been done or has it not been done" with a bit of confusion there," he said.

"I think most of it went pretty smoothly."

The new rules were introduced after the round six draw between North Melbourne and Sydney. The Swans unwittingly had 19 men on the field during the crucial dying stages of the match.

Bruce said the alterations to the bench system would ensure that wouldn't happen again.

"Clubs will get used to it as time goes on," Bruce said.