Previously a player who joined a rival club would incur an additional two points under the player points system.

AFLNEB announced in October that it had reduced that penalty to one point for this season.

The Hawks look to be the major beneficiary of the rule change, signing Tom McCaffrey and Nick Murray from Wodonga Raiders.

Raven Jolliffe is also expected to join his former teammates at the W.J. Findlay Oval.

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Myrtleford has also capitalised, signing fringe Wangarratta duo Liam Byrne and Jarryd Wallace while Albury has lured Lachie Taylor-Nugent from North Albury.

AFLNEB regional manager John O’Donohue said he didn’t expect the rule change to spark an influx of players crossing to rival clubs.

“The whole points system in under constant review,” O’Donohue said.

“The points and how they are managed is continually assessed and we felt that implementing two points (for crossing to a rival club) wasn’t having much effect.

“We analyse all clearances and there hasn’t been too much change in players crossing to rival clubs anyway.

“By tinkering that rule we don’t think it will create a massive change and we have only seen a couple of instances so far this year. You get that happening most years and by no means has it been of vast proportions.”