ONLY four sides complied with the AFL’s new rotations cap in the first week of the pre-season competition.

Carlton, Port Adelaide, Sydney and Richmond were the only teams to prepare themselves for the new rotations limit, which has been set at 90 for the 2016 season.

The remaining six teams — North Melbourne, St Kilda, Adelaide, Hawthorn, Fremantle and West Coast — took advantage of the ability to use unlimited rotations in the first three weeks of the NAB Challenge.

Using only 78 rotations, Carlton went to the bench less than any side over the weekend — a deliberate tactic according to first-year coach Brendon Bolton.

Round 18

“That (strategy) was deliberate, we wanted to push our players today and make them endure,” Bolton said after the match,” he said.

“That’s why it’s hard to maintain the consistency when you limit the rotations like we did.”

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton used the least rotations. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: News Corp Australia

Port Adelaide (82 rotations) and Sydney (90) also stayed under what will soon be the AFL’s new limit.

Richmond (91) attempted to do so, but were hampered by three players being forced from the field due to the blood rule and two more going off injured.

Carlton and Port Adelaide looked to have the most refined strategies in terms of rotations, going to the bench 15 and 16 times respectively in the opening term before rotating more frequently later in the match.

However, while some set themselves for the season ahead, a host of other clubs chose to take a different approach.

North Melbourne used 150 rotations in its clash with St Kilda in Wangaratta on Saturday, exceeding last season’s limit by 30 and this season’s maximum by 60.

Rotations were not recorded for Brisbane’s clash with Gold Coast in Burpengary.

HOW EACH CLUB USED ROTATIONS THIS WEEK (VIA CHAMPION DATA)

North Melbourne (150)

St Kilda (142)

Adelaide (138)

Hawthorn (134)

Fremantle (127)

West Coast (125)

Richmond (91)

Sydney (90)

Port Adelaide (82)

Carlton (78)