Week Four, 2018 Toyota AFL Finals Series
Saturday September 29
Grand Final – West Coast v Collingwood at the MCG, 2.30pm


2 UPCOMING MILESTONES

Most club games – Scott Pendlebury, Collingwood. Scott is due to play his 277th game this week, drawing him level with Wayne Richardson in third spot in club history. The most games for Collingwood are Tony Shaw (313 games, 1978-94), Gordon Coventry (306 games, 1920-37), Wayne Richardson (277 games, 1966-78), Scott Pendlebury (276 games, 2006–current), Len Thompson (268 games, 1965-78), Scott Burns (264 games, 1995-2008), Jock McHale (261 games, 1903-20), Nathan Buckley (260 games, 1994-2007), Dane Swan (258 games, 2003-16), Gavin Brown (254 games (1987-2000).

100 games – Will Hoskin-Elliott, Collingwood
50 games – Tom Phillips, Collingwood

Premiership with Two Clubs – Travis Varcoe, Collingwood. Should Collingwood win this week, Travis Varcoe would become the 30th player in the game’s history to play in a premiership with two separate clubs, after playing in the Geelong Cats’ 2009 and 2011 flags. Players in the history of the game to have played in a flag with two clubs: Eddie Drohan (Fitzroy and Collingwood, 1898-99/1903), Mick Grace (Fitzroy and Carlton, 1898-99/1906-07), Frank Caine (Carlton and Essendon, 1906-07/1912), Jim Martin (Essendon and Fitzroy, 1912/1913), Charlie Norris (Collingwood and Fitzroy, 1910/1913 and 1916), Tom Fitzmaurice (Essendon and Geelong, 1923-24/1925), Horrie Edmonds (Collingwood and Richmond, 1929-30/1934), Jack Carney (Geelong and Carlton, 1931/1938), Brighton Diggins (South Melbourne and Carlton, 1933/1938), Gordon Abbott (Geelong and Essendon, 1937/1942 and 1946), Keith Stackpole (Collingwood and Fitzroy, 1935-36/1944), Peter McLean (Melbourne and Carlton, 1964/1968), Ian Stewart (St Kilda and Richmond, 1966/1973), Barry Davis (Essendon and North Melbourne, 1962 and 1965/1975), Doug Wade (Geelong and North Melbourne, 1963/1975), Brent Crosswell (Carlton and North Melbourne, 1968 and 1970/1975 and 1977), Barry Rowlings (Hawthorn and Richmond, 1976/1980), Bryan Wood (Richmond and Essendon, 1973-74 and 1980/1985), Darren Jarman (Hawthorn and Adelaide, 1991/1997-98), Martin Pike (North Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions, 1999/2001-03), Blake Caracella (Essendon and the Brisbane Lions, 2000/2003), Gavin Wanganeen (Essendon and Port Adelaide, 1993/2004), Damien Hardwick (Essendon and Port Adelaide, 2000/2004), Byron Pickett (North Melbourne and Port Adelaide, 1999/2004), Jason Ball (West Coast and the Sydney Swans, 1994/2005), Cameron Mooney (North Melbourne and the Geelong Cats, 1999/2007 and 2009), Stewart Dew (Port Adelaide and Hawthorn, 2004/2008), Darren Jolly (Sydney Swans and Collingwood, 2005/2010) and Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide and Hawthorn, 2004/2013-15).

Premiership with Two Clubs – Lewis Jetta, West Coast. Should West Coast win this week, Lewis Jetta would become the 30th player in the game’s history to play in a premiership with two separate clubs after playing in the Sydney Swans’ 2012 flag, as per the players listed above for Travis Varcoe.


3 TRIBUNAL MATCH REVIEW PROCESS

The expected process for the 2018 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. Match Review Officer Michael Christian will also be made available at a general media call at a time to be determined.

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.

There were no players reported from the weekend matches.


4 MEDIA ATTENDING THE 2018 DRAFT COMBINES & TRADE PERIOD – RETAIN YOUR ACCREDITATION

Media who will be attending the 2018 NAB AFL and AFLW Draft Combines at Marvel Stadium between October 2-5 and/or the NAB AFL Trade Period October 8-17 at Marvel Stadium please be advised you will require 2018 AFL media accreditation (home and away or finals accreditation).
Media are advised to keep their accreditation if you will be working at the Draft Combines and/or NAB AFL Trade Period.
Note this also applies for media attending press calls.


5 MEDIA ACCREDITATION – NO FURTHER APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED FOR 2018 GRAND FINAL

As a reminder to all media, please note that accreditation requests for the 2018 Toyota AFL Grand Final closed on Friday, September 14. The match is over-subscribed and no further applications can be lodged.
Successful applications were all notified to sports editors / editors over the course of the weekend.
A seating plan for the press box will be issued later this week, with all other media to be placed in the crowd overflow section.


6 BROWNLOW MEDAL – INVITED PLAYERS

The following players have been invited to the 2018 Brownlow Medal Presentation:
Adelaide Crows – Bryce Gibbs, Josh Jenkins, Rory Laird, Paul Seedsman, Taylor Walker; Brisbane Lions – Harris Andrews, Dayne Beams, Darcy Gardiner, Stefan Martin, Dayne Zorko; Carlton – Patrick Cripps, Ed Curnow, Matthew Kreuzer, Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson; Collingwood – Taylor Adams, Jordan de Goey, Brodie Grundy, Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom; Essendon – Brendon Goddard, Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett, Adam Saad, Devon Smith; Fremantle – Nat Fyfe, David Mundy, Lachie Neale, Luke Ryan, Nathan Wilson; Geelong Cats – Gary Ablett, Patrick Dangerfield, Mark Blicavs, Mitch Duncan, Tim Kelly, Joel Selwood, Tom Stewart; Gold Coast Suns – Jarrod Harbrow, Steven May, Touk Miller, David Swallow, Lachlan Weller; GWS Giants – Stephen Coniglio, Phil Davis, Josh Kelly, Callan Ward, Lachie Whitfield; Hawthorn – Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Tom Mitchell, Jarryd Roughead, Isaac Smith; Melbourne – Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jake Melksham, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney; North Melbourne – Ben Brown, Ben Cunnington, Shaun Higgins, Robbie Tarrant, Jack Ziebell; Port Adelaide – Travis Boak, Robbie Gray, Tom Jonas, Justin Westhoff, Ollie Wines; Richmond – Trent Cotchin, Shane Edwards, Kane Lambert, Dustin Martin, Alex Rance, Jack Riewoldt; St Kilda – Jarryn Geary, Tim Membrey, Seb Ross, Jack Steele, Jack Steven; Sydney Swans – Luke Franklin, Isaac Heeney, Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker; West Coast – Jack Darling, Shannon Hurn, Lewis Jetta, Jack Redden, Elliot Yeo; Western Bulldogs – Marcus Bontempelli, Jason Johannisen, Jack Macrae, Toby McLean, Easton Wood.


7 KEY DATES, NAB AFL TRADE PERIOD / DRAFT PROCESS

Please find below the key dates for the 2018 season post-season period around club list requirements, NAB AFL Trade Period and the NAB AFL Draft Process:

Tuesday 2 October – Friday 5 October – AFL Draft Combine.
Friday 5 October - AFL Restricted Free Agency Offer and Unrestricted Free Agency Period Commences.
Friday 5 October – Victoria / NEAFL / Tasmania State Draft Combine.
Monday 8 October 10am - NAB AFL Trade Period Commences.
Friday 12 October 5pm - Close of AFL Restricted Free Agency Offer and Unrestricted Free Agency Period.
Saturday 13 October - South Australian Draft Combine.
Sunday 14 October - West Australian Draft Combine.
Monday 15 October 2pm - AFL Restricted Free Agency Matching Offer Three-Day Period Ends.
Wednesday 17 October 8.30pm – NAB AFL Trade Period Closes (for exchange of players).
Friday 19 October 5pm - Application to Relist a Player Close
Wednesday 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; Northern Academy, Next Generation Academy Players Lodged; TPP Pre-Season Estimates (1).
Thursday 1 November - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (1) Commences
Thursday 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
Friday 9 November 2pm - List Lodgement (2); TPP Pre-Season Estimates (2)
Saturday 10 November - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Commences
Friday 16 November 2pm – NAB AFL Trade Period Closes (for exchange of selections only).
Friday 16 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, Final Draft Nomination Form Lodgement.
Friday 16 November 5pm - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Closes
Thursday 22 November 7pm – 9.30pm - NAB AFL Draft Selection Meeting (Round One), Marvel Stadium.
Friday 23 November 10am – 1.30pm - NAB AFL Draft Selection Meeting (Round Two onwards to conclusion).
Friday 23 November 1.30pm – 2.30pm - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (3)
Friday 23 November 2.30pm - AFL Club List Lodgement (3).
Friday 23 November 5pm - NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft Selection Meeting and NAB AFL Rookie Draft Selection Meeting.
Tuesday 27 November 2pm - Final AFL Club List Lodgement; Final TPP Pre-Season Estimates


8 BROWNLOW MEDAL – INELIGIBLE PLAYERS

As a reminder to all media, the following players listed below are ineligible for the 2018 Brownlow Medal, after having been suspended for one or more matches this season: Kyle Cheney, Richard Douglas, Taylor Walker (Adelaide Crows); Tom Cutler, Nick Robertson, Mitch Robinson (Brisbane Lions); Ed Curnow, Jed Lamb, Dale Thomas (Carlton); Mason Cox (Collingwood); Matthew Leuenberger, Conor McKenna (Essendon); Nat Fyfe, Ryan Nyhuis, Michael Walters (Fremantle); Tom Hawkins (Geelong Cats); Jack Bowes, Sam Day, Steven May (Gold Coast Suns); Jeremy Cameron (GWS Giants); Daniel Howe, James Sicily (Hawthorn); Scott Thompson (North Melbourne); Lindsay Thomas (Port Adelaide); Josh Caddy, Nick Graham, Nick Vlastuin (Richmond); Nathan Brown, Jake Carlisle (St Kilda); Zak Jones (Sydney Swans); Andrew Gaff, Nic Naitanui (West Coast); Zaine Cordy, Lachlan Hunter (Western Bulldogs).


9 CURRENTLY SUSPENDED PLAYERS

The AFL wishes to advise the players that have completed and currently serving MRP suspensions across the competition are as follows:

Currently Suspended:
Andrew Gaff, West Coast. Three matches to serve. Eight matches from round 20.
Nathan Brown, St Kilda. One match to serve in 2019 season. Three matches from round 21.
Scott Thompson, North Melbourne. One match to serve in 2019 season. One match from round 23.

Completed:
Nil.


10 AFLW KEY DATES

Please find attached the key dates in the AFLW player selection process:
Rookie signing period - Monday May 14 – Friday September 28
Draft Nominations Open - Monday September 3 – Friday September 14
NAB AFLW Draft Combine - Tuesday October 2 – Wednesday October 3
NAB AFLW Draft - Tuesday October 23


11 AFL PHOTOGRAPHER ONFIELD VESTS

All photographers working at the 2018 Toyota AFL Grand Final will require a match day vest, which will be signed in/out in the Press box on the day, as per the 2017 Grand Final.
A numbered grey vest provides access to shoot the game between the fence and boundary line. It does NOT allow arena access at any point, including the post-match presentations.
2018 on-field finals vests for the post-match presentations have been distributed to the major organisations and are blue with 2018 on back (accredited organisations), dark blue (AFL photos).


12 NATIONAL SPORTS MUSEUM AT THE MCG

The National Sports Museum is located inside Gate 3 at the MCG, as a must-visit for sports fans of all ages. It is open daily 10am – 5pm. On AFL event days:
All ticketholder’s receive 50% off the price of admission to the National Sports Museum during event mode (from gates open until the match starts).
Kids are admitted FREE to the National Sports Museum for all AFL Sunday Funday games during event mode in 2018
Visit mcg.org.au/nsm for details.


13 2018 NAB AFL DRAFT – TRADED FUTURE SELECTIONS

As a reminder to all media, the following selections at this year’s 2018 NAB AFL Draft were traded during last year’s trade period.

Round One
Adelaide Crows, Received from Melbourne.
Gold Coast Suns, Received from West Coast.

Round Two
Adelaide Crows, Received from Carlton.
Carlton, Received from Adelaide Crows.
Carlton, Received from the Western Bulldogs.
Essendon, Received from GWS Giants.
Gold Coast Suns, Received from Essendon.
Gold Coast Suns, Received from the Geelong Cats.
GWS Giants, Received from Fremantle.
Port Adelaide, Received from St Kilda.
Sydney Swans, Received from Collingwood.
West Coast, Received from the Gold Coast Suns.

Round Three
Adelaide Crows, Received from Carlton.
Collingwood, Received from the Sydney Swans.
Geelong Cats, Received from Richmond.
Gold Coast Suns, Received from Fremantle.
GWS Giants, Received from Essendon.
Melbourne, Received from the Adelaide Crows.
North Melbourne, Received from St Kilda, via on-trades.
North Melbourne, Received from West Coast, via on-trades.
Port Adelaide, Received from North Melbourne.

Round Four
Adelaide Crows, Received from Melbourne.
Carlton, Received from Geelong Cats.
Geelong Cats, Received from Carlton.
Geelong Cats, Received from Gold Coast Suns.
St Kilda, Received from the Adelaide Crows, via on-trades.
St Kilda, Received from Port Adelaide.
West Coast, Received from Hawthorn, via on-trades.
Western Bulldogs, Received from Fremantle.