Essendon will play its first competitive match of 2014 when they take on Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium next Monday February 17 as part of the NAB Challenge series.

The pre-season competition will take on a different format this year with 18 games to be played in 18 days at 13 venues across Australia, with no Grand Final to crown a pre-season champion.

Once again this year the nine-point super goal will feature with players scoring a goal from outside the 50metre arc to score nine points for their side.

The pre-season matches provide an opportunity for clubs to come to terms with the interchange cap limit to be introduced throughout 2014.

Rotations for the NAB Challenge will be set at 130 before dropping to 120 for the home and away season.

The teams will consist of 26 players per side, with eight players on the interchange bench, two of them being substitutes.

The AFL announced rule changes relating to body contact at the end of last year, with these to be in place during the NAB Challenge.

For example, "a player electing to bump will be cited for rough conduct if contact comes via a head clash". Players will be instructed that a head clash should be reasonably foreseen when bumping.

Contact with the legs has also been addressed, with a free kick to be paid if a player makes forceful contact below the knees or acts in a manner likely to cause injury, even if contact ?does not occur. Also, changes have been made to discourage players from seeking to draw forceful high contact.

As will be the case during the 2014 season teams will be permitted only one runner who may deliver coaching messages before immediately leaving the field.

Pre-Season schedule