Forward thinking Swans coach Paul Roos believes every AFL club will hire a specialist bench coach once the gloomy economic situation improves.

Roos proved a pioneer among AFL coaches last year when he viewed a number of games from ground level as opposed to the traditional aerial view from a coaches box.

Other coaches are starting to follow Roos's example and while he won't do it every week during the coming season, he believes one of his coaching staff should be down at ground level for each game.

"I think probably as an industry we've come to terms with the fact that we've always been away from the players come match day," Roos said.

"I just think more as an industry that we've probably come to the conclusion now you need better contact with your players on match day.

"We do it through the week then we sort of distance ourselves.

"I would say in two or three years' time once the economy recovers you are probably going to have a designated bench coach that is just a separate coach and just a game day coach."

Roos said he was not in favour of the rushed behinds rule currently being trialled in the pre-season competition, but suggested it could be trialled again at the same stage next season.

"I think it's an over reaction and it shouldn't come in, but I'm only one of 16 coaches and there's plenty of other stakeholders involved," Roos said.

"We've seen a number of mistakes already throughout the competition.

"It's tough for the umpires and we had an umpire explain the best he probably could, but even he seemed a little bit confused."

Roos said some positions in Sydney's opening round game against St Kilda were still up for grabs heading into their final trial against Adelaide.

He suggested youngster Heath Grundy was close to cementing a key forward position, possibly at full forward in place of the recuperating Michael O'Loughlin (ankle).

Roos was optimistic Sydney could also fill the space left vacant by injured fullback Leo Barry.

"I think with Craig (Bolton), Teddy (Richards) and Lewis (Roberts-Thomson) we are pretty well prepared for the back end and with Heath Grundy playing well, hopefully he can fill a little bit of Mick's spot up the other end," Roos said.

He said O'Loughlin was likely to be fully fit from round three onward, but would probably have played in the opening game had it been a grand final.

Roos said O'Loughlin might even have a run in the reserves in the first two rounds, but joked the veteran full forward probably had a clause in his contract excluding him from playing with the twos.

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