Several traditional pre-game pillars are up for discussion as the AFL grapples with significant changes to the format for the Round 21 Collingwood-Geelong clash at the MCG.
Collingwood is going full-steam-ahead with plans to trial an NRL-style entrance for the Thursday night game, now less than a fortnight away.
Zero Hanger understands both Collingwood and Geelong will enter the field less than five minutes before the first ball-up.
Under one option, believed to be most likely, the visiting Cats would enter the ground four minutes before the ball-up and Collingwood just three minutes before the start.
The shift, driven by the most traditional club of all, Collingwood, has thrown up several dilemmas - including the coin toss, club songs and club banners.
Given the time squeeze, early discussions have included moving the coin toss to about 45 minutes before the game - and perhaps done in the rooms and broadcast by Seven and Fox.
It is understood the toss will remain closer to the start, but will there be time in Collingwood to run out so late?
What is potentially more contentious is traditional club banners. Will the clubs' cheer squads have time to get off the ground after players run through?
The game is a one-off for now, but no banners would be a major shift to footy tradition.
There has also been speculation the club songs will be shortened given the rapid-fire start to the game.
All issues have caused debate among insiders as the Magpies remain intent on mixing it up.
Clubs usually enter the field 15 minutes before the start to warm up on the field.
In this game, the clubs will do their final warm-ups inside the rooms, with a light show likely to take centre stage to warm up the crowd.
Collingwood fitness boss, Jarrod Wade, is believed to have been strongly pushing the concept with support in high places at the Magpies. Teams in the NRL make late entrances and swing straight into action.
