Here follows the AFL news list for this week.
1 PROGRAM OF MATCHES (all times are local)
Friday September 2
EJ Whitten Legends Match at Etihad Stadium, 7.50pm
Saturday September 3
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at VU Whitten Oval, 7.10pm
Week One AFL Finals Fixture
Thursday September 8
Second Elimination Final, West Coast v Western Bulldogs at Domain Stadium, 6.10pm (8.10pm EST)
Friday September 9
Second Qualifying Final, Geelong Cats v Hawthorn at the MCG, 7.50pm
Saturday September 10
First Qualifying Final, Sydney Swans v GWS Giants at ANZ Stadium, 3.20pm
Saturday September 10
First Elimination Final, Adelaide Crows v North Melbourne at Adelaide Oval, 7.10pm (7.40pm EST)
2 IMPENDING MILESTONES
Most Club Games – Michael Firrito, North Melbourne. Michael is due to play his 275th game in the opening week of the finals, drawing level with David Dench in ninth spot in the club’s history. The most games for North Melbourne are Brent Harvey (431 games, 1996–current), Drew Petrie (315 games, 2001-current), Glenn Archer (311 games, 1992-2007), Wayne Schimmelbusch (306 games, 1973-87), Adam Simpson (306 games, 1995-2009), Keith Greig (294 games, 1971-85), Anthony Stevens (292 games, 1989-2004), Mick Martyn (287 games (1988-2002), David Dench (275 games, 1969-84), Michael Firrito (274 games, 2003-current).
200 games – Shannon Hurn, West Coast
150 games / 50 club games – Shane Mumford, GWS Giants
100 games – Ryan Schoenmakers, Hawthorn
50 games – Kyle Hartigan, Adelaide Crows
50 consecutive games – Heath Shaw, GWS Giants. Heath has played 49 consecutive games since round 19, 2014.
50 consecutive games – Brent Harvey, North Melbourne. Brent has played 49 consecutive games since the 2014 second semi final.
Most Finals Played – Shaun Burgoyne, Hawthorn. Shaun is due to play his 32nd final, which would place him in outright second in VFL/AFL history. The most finals played are Michael Tuck (39 for Hawthorn), Shaun Burgoyne (31 for Port Adelaide and Hawthorn), Gordon Coventry (31 for Collingwood), Bruce Doull (29 for Carlton), Leigh Matthews (29 for Hawthorn), Wayne Schimmelbusch (29 for North Melbourne), Jason Akermanis (28 for the Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs), Gary Ayres (28 for Hawthorn), Adam Goodes (28 for the Sydney Swans), Bill Hutchison (28 for Essendon) and Chris Mew (28 for Hawthorn)
Most Club Finals Played – Brent Harvey, North Melbourne. Brent is due to play his 24th finals match, which would draw him level with Glenn Archer in equal third position in club history. The most finals for North Melbourne are Wayne Schimmelbusch (29), David Dench (25), Glenn Archer (24), Brent Harvey (23) and Keith Greig (23).
Most Club Finals Played – Corey Enright, Geelong Cats. Corey is due to play his 23rd finals match, which would draw him level with Joel Corey and Steve Johnson in equal second position in club history. Team mates Andrew Mackie and Joel Selwood can also move to equal fifth position in club history. The most finals for Geelong are Jimmy Bartel (26), Joel Corey (23), Steve Johnson (23), Corey Enright (22), James Kelly (22), Matthew Scarlett (22), Paul Chapman (21), Garry Hocking (21), Andrew Mackie (21) and Joel Selwood (21).
Most Finals Wins Coached – Alastair Clarkson has coached 16 finals wins for Hawthorn. His next finals win would place him level with Ron Barassi among the leading 10 coaches in VFL/AFL history. Most finals win as a coach – Jock McHale (27 for Collingwood), Mick Malthouse (27 for Footscray, West Coast, Collingwood and Carlton), Tom Hafey (24 for Richmond and Collingwood), Kevin Sheedy (23 for Essendon), Allan Jeans (22 for St Kilda and Hawthorn), Dick Reynolds (21 for Essendon), Leigh Matthews (19 for Collingwood and Brisbane Lions), David Parkin (19 for Hawthorn, Carlton and Fitzroy), Frank Hughes (19 for Richmond and Melbourne), Ron Barassi (17 for Carlton and North Melbourne).
Most Finals Goals – Lance Franklin, Sydney Swans. Lance Franklin needs four goals to move into the top 10 finals goalkickers in VFL/AFL history. The leading goalkickers in finals are Gordon Coventry (111 for Collingwood), Jason Dunstall (78 for Hawthorn), Jack Titus (74 for Richmond), Leigh Matthews (72 for Hawthorn), Stephen Kernahan (65 for Carlton), Alastair Lynch (65 for Brisbane), Gary Ablett senior (64 for Geelong), Doug Wade (64 for Geelong and North Melbourne), Kevin Bartlett (62 for Richmond), Dick Lee (62 for Collingwood), Jack Meuller (62 for Melbourne), Peter Sumich (62 for West Coast), Billy Brownless (60 for Geelong), Wayne Carey (60 for North Melbourne and the Adelaide Crows) and Lance Franklin (58 for Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans).
500 Career Goals – Steve Johnson, GWS Giants. Steve needs five goals to reach 500 career goals, having kicked 495 goals since his debut in 2002.
450 Career Goals – Josh Kennedy, West Coast. Josh needs two goals to reach 450 career goals, having kicked 448 goals since his debut in 2006.
3 TRIBUNAL MATCH REVIEW PROCESS
The expected process for the 2016 AFL Season under the AFL Match Review system is that the AFL will issue a media release late on the Monday after each round detailing the penalties to be offered to players for incidents from that round of matches, or the reasons why no further action was to be taken.
The clubs and players then have until 11am on the Tuesday morning to decide whether to accept the penalty on offer, or whether they wish to contest the charge at a Tribunal hearing, to usually be held on the Tuesday night. The AFL will formally detail all instances on the Tuesday of whether cases will proceed to the Tribunal or not.
The following players were reported from the weekend’s matches:
Sam Naismith, Sydney Swans, reported by umpire David Harris for engaging in rough conduct against Bachar Houli, Richmond, during the second quarter of the round 23 match between the Sydney Swans and Richmond, played at the SCG on Saturday August 27, 2016.
4 TRIBUNAL HEARING LOCATION
The AFL Tribunal is held in the AFL media room on Level LB2 at Etihad Stadium. The AFL wishes to advise that all media covering the Tribunal hearings at Etihad Stadium need to park in the B2 car park (entry off the Bourke St extension) and report to the Etihad Stadium security office to gain admittance via the internal ring road. There will be no access via AFL House to any AFL Tribunal hearing through the season, as our offices will have closed by 6pm each day.
5 LAUNCH OF THE 2016 TOYOTA AFL FINALS SERIES / CAPTAIN AND COACH MEDIA CONFERENCES
The AFL will formally launch the 2016 Toyota AFL Finals Series this Wednesday, August 31 when it receives the 2016 Premiership Cup from Cash’s. Vision and picture opportunities with the Cup and key September medals will be available for all media.
2016 Toyota AFL Finals Launch
10am, Wednesday August 31
Richmond Rowing Club
7 Boathouse Drive, Melbourne
The clubs positioned 1-4 on the ladder will also hold their captain and coach media conferences this week, with full details to come separately from the clubs. Teams 5-8 on the ladder will hold their conferences with captain and coach next week.
Tuesday August 30 – Hawthorn (Alastair Clarkson/Luke Hodge); Sydney Swans (John Longmire/Jarrad McVeigh); GWS Giants (Leon Cameron/captain tbc).
Wednesday August 31 – Geelong Cats (Chris Scott/Joel Selwood).
6 WOMEN’S EXHIBITION MATCH, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3
Media working at the Women’s All Stars Match between the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne at the VU Whitten Oval on Saturday September 3 will require their 2016 AFL Media Accreditation.
Media who do not have 2016 AFL Media Accreditation and/or to reserve a place in the press box, please contact Michelle Clyne 0411 964 141.
7 CURRENTLY SUSPENDED PLAYERS
The AFL wishes to advise the players that have completed and currently serving MRP suspensions across the competition are as follows:
Completed:
Rory Sloane, Adelaide Crows. One match from round 22.
Currently Suspended:
Simon Tunbridge, West Coast. One match to serve. Three matches from round 21.
8 APPLICATIONS FOR DAY PASSES FOR AFL FINALS
The AFL wishes to advise it has updated its system for the production of day passes for late accreditation applications to cover single matches during the Toyota AFL Finals Series. Day passes are now printed with a headshot, meaning any application must be lodged by Wednesday 5pm in the week of the match being requested, with a suitable headshot. Requests for the Grand Final will need to be lodged by Friday September 16, and the AFL cannot guarantee that all requests will be met. Please contact Patrick Keane for any further queries.
9 NOMINATED ROOKIE PROMOTIONS
The AFL wishes to advise the following players have been promoted to the senior list for the finals teams under the various provisions of the rookie rules:
Adelaide Crows – Reilly O’Brien (mid-season rookie promotion).
North Melbourne – Majak Daw (pre-season nominated rookie promotion).
North Melbourne – Robin Nahas (mid-season rookie promotion).
West Coast – Simon Tunbridge (mid-season rookie promotion).
Western Bulldogs – Roarke Smith (mid-season rookie promotion).
10 LONG TERM INJURY LIST
The AFL wishes to advise the following changes are in place to player lists for teams contesting the finals, via the long-term injury list rules:
Adelaide Crows – Jonathon Beech is currently upgraded from the rookie list in place of Sam Shaw.
Geelong Cats – Tom Ruggles is currently upgraded from the rookie list in place of Jackson Thurlow.
GWS Giants – Sam Reid is currently upgraded from the rookie list in place of Paul Ahern.
GWS Giants – Daniel Lloyd is currently upgraded from the rookie list in place of Jarrod Pickett.
Hawthorn – Jarryd Roughead is currently on the long-term injury list, with no replacement named from the rookie list.
North Melbourne – Taylor Garner is currently on the long-term injury list, with no replacement named from the rookie list.
Sydney Swans – Tom Papley is currently upgraded from the rookie list in place of Alex Johnson.
Sydney Swans – Jordan Foote is currently upgraded from the rookie list in place of Daniel Robinson.
Sydney Swans – Harrison Marsh is currently upgraded from the rookie list in place of Michael Talia.
West Coast – Kane Lucas is currently upgraded from the rookie list in place of Damien Cavka.
Western Bulldogs – Jed Adcock is currently upgraded from the rookie list in place of Josh Prudden.
11 KEY DATES, NAB AFL TRADE PERIOD / DRAFT PROCESS
Please find below the INDICATIVE key dates for the 2016 season around club list requirements, NAB AFL Trade Period and the NAB AFL Draft Process:
Thursday 6 October – Sunday 9 October – AFL Draft Combine
Friday 7 October - AFL Restricted Free Agency Offer and Unrestricted Free Agency Period Commences
Monday 10 October 10am - NAB AFL Trade Period Commences
Sunday 16 October 5pm - Close of AFL Restricted Free Agency Offer and Unrestricted Free Agency Period.
Wednesday 19 October - AFL Restricted Free Agency Matching Offer Three-Day Period Ends
Thursday 20 October 2pm – NAB AFL Trade Period Closes
Friday 21 October 5pm - Application to Relist a Player Close
Monday 31 October 2pm - List Lodgement (1) ; Rookie Promotion to Primary List; Retained 2nd & 3rd Year Rookies; International Scholarship Player; Alternate Talent Player Nominations; Club Notification of Rookie Players Not Accepting a Contract of Offer; Nomination of Draft Eligible Father/Son Players Lodged; TPP Pre-Season Estimates (1).
Tuesday 1 November - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (1) Commences
Tuesday 8 November - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (1) Closes, Out of Contract Listed AFL Primary List Players Draft Nomination Form and Player Request for Removal from List Form Lodged with AFL
Wednesday 9 November 2pm - List Lodgement (2); TPP Pre-Season Estimates (2)
Thursday 10 November - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Commences
Friday 18 November 2pm - Delisted Primary List Draft Nomination Form Lodgement; Non–Retained Rookie Players Draft Nomination Form Lodgement; Players Not Registered or Played for Three years Rookie List Form lodgement; New or Expired (after 3 years) Draft Nomination Form Lodgement, AFL Father-Son Bidding Nominations.
Friday 18 November 5pm - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Closes
Friday 25 November - NAB AFL Draft Selection Meeting (Sydney) including Father/Son & Academy Players Bidding.
Saturday 26 November - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (3) Commences
Sunday 27 November 2pm - AFL Delisted Free Agency Period (3) Concludes
Monday 28 November - AFL Club List Lodgement (3).
Monday 28 November 4pm - NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft Selection Meeting (Telstra Webex)
Monday 28 November 4.05pm - Notification of Pre-Selected Rookies if not selected in the Pre-Season Draft.
Monday 28 November 4.10pm - NAB AFL Rookie Draft Selection Meeting (Telstra Webex)
Wednesday 30 November 2pm - Final AFL Club List Lodgement; Final TPP Pre-Season Estimates
12 2016 NAB AFL DRAFT – TRADED FUTURE SELECTIONS
As a reminder to all media, the following selections at this year’s 2016 NAB AFL Draft were traded during last year’s trade period.
Round One
Gold Coast Suns received Melbourne round one selection.
GWS Giants received Collingwood round one selection.
GWS Giants received Geelong round one selection, via Carlton on-trade.
Round Two
Brisbane Lions received St Kilda round two selection, via Collingwood on-trade.
Gold Coast Suns received Fremantle round two selection.
Gold Coast Suns received Port Adelaide round two selection.
Gold Coats Suns received Richmond round two selection.
GWS Giants received Adelaide Crows' round two selection.
Round Three
Brisbane Lions received North Melbourne round three selection.
Carlton received Western Bulldogs round three selection.
Geelong Cats received Brisbane Lions round three selection.
Round Four
Western Bulldogs received Carlton round four selection.
Western Bulldogs received Sydney Swans round four selection.
Round Five
Geelong Cats received GWS Giants round five selection.
13 MEDIA ENTRY TO THE MCG
The Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) wishes to advise all media working at matches at the MCG they should enter the ground through Gate 3, unless they have underground parking for particular matches. Access control at the ground does not allow entry at Gate 2, for AFL accreditation passes. Further, the MCC also wishes to advise that any equipment being taken up to the host radio boxes or television broadcast boxes should be taken up via goods lift 8, and not the patron lifts 5-7.
