COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley says he will be "tearing his hair out" this season as players and coaches adjust to the new sliding rule.

Players remain confused about the new rule and are concerned it will spark uncertainty about whether to go in for a contested ball or not.

There are also suggestions the new rule, which is designed to prevent serious leg injuries, could lead to an increase in head clashes.

Buckley said the rule was going to spark "drastic changes to the way the game's played and the mentality of players".

"I think the balance of the slide rule versus the head high will be fascinating," he told AFL.com.au on Wednesday.

"I'll be tearing my hair out, I've got no doubt about it.

"Players will be scratching their heads and the umpires will find it very hard to adjudicate that."

Buckley expressed concern about how the rule would be enforced in wet weather and suggested the interpretation might change through the season to "reach a balance that's right".

"There has to be leeway somewhere, whether it's protecting the head or protecting the leg, you can't do both," he said.

"There's plenty to play out in that regard and I couldn't tell you exactly what it's going to look like. I don't think the AFL could tell you exactly what it's going to look like.

"The players will adapt and evolve as they always do, and the clubs will adapt and evolve.

"I think that's one to watch."

Speaking at Wednesday's AFL Coaches' Association annual meeting at Etihad Stadium, Buckley said Collingwood had conducted a review of its pre-season on Monday and it had been positive, despite off-field issues.

"There seems to be a disconnect between internal matters and external focus," he said.

"We've got individuals that are ahead of the same time last year, benchmarking with our fitness testing and strength testing.

"By any measure we're better prepared this year than last year, but you wouldn’t know about it because people keep asking about 'Swanny' (Dane Swan) or 'Daisy' (Dale Thomas) or 'Clokey' (Travis Cloke), or anyone else who makes headlines.

"It's far from reality."

Nathan Schmook is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan