Clubs are adapting to the use of a medical substitution after the AFL announced the new rule ahead of Round One.

Teams name a 22-man squad with four emergencies - one of which will become the medical substitution for the round.

On Saturday, against Geelong, Luke Brown was substituted due to an Achilles injury and replaced with Club debutant Mitch Hinge.

Crows Doctor Marc Cesana told The Optus Crows Show the post-game procedure for injuries varied slightly for players who had been substituted.

“The post-game process is like any other in terms of reviewing the injury and planning out the week for investigations,” Cesana said.

“The difference is in this scenario is when you have a medical substitution, you’re required to send the medical information to the head AFL doctor.

“They can look through the clinical details and the issues that happened on the day that led to our decision for our player to be withdrawn.”

A player removed due to the substitution is also likely to miss the following week.

“The mechanics of the rule are, it has to be an injury from that day,” Cesana said.

“An easy example (of missing the following week) is the concussion.

“As we know under the new (concussion) protocol, the minimum you can return is 12 days.

“If a player is concussed on the day he has to be withdrawn and he’s going to by definition miss the following week at least.

“It’s purely the doctors’ call, which we then pass on to the coaching staff and then to the interchange stewards to let them know we’ve made the call.”

Also on The Optus Crows Show this week, James Rowe talks through his first AFL goal, AFLW star Nikki Gore shows off her surfing skills and Brodie Smith chats with young Crow Jordon Butts.

The Optus Crows Show airs on Channel 7 in Adelaide at 12.30pm.

Interstate fans can catch the full episode on afc.com.au shortly after.