Round 23
Friday August 24
Port Adelaide v Essendon at Adelaide Oval, 7.20pm

Saturday August 25
Geelong Cats v Gold Coast Suns at GMHBA Stadium, 1.45pm
Richmond v Western Bulldogs at the MCG, 2.10pm
Fremantle v Collingwood at Domain Stadium, 2.35pm
Sydney Swans v Hawthorn at the SCG, 7.25pm
Carlton v Adelaide Crows at Etihad Stadium, 7.25pm

Sunday August 26
Brisbane Lions v West Coast at the Gabba, 1.10pm
Melbourne v GWS Giants at the MCG, 3.20pm
St Kilda v North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm


2 UPCOMING MILESTONES

AFL Life Membership – Scott Pendlebury, Collingwood. Scott is due to qualify for AFL Life membership this week with his 300th official game since his debut in 2006, comprising 272 premiership games, 23 pre-season games, one state of origin game and three International Rules Tests.

Most Games Played – Shaun Burgoyne, Hawthorn. With his next match, Shaun will play his 356th game and draw level with Bruce Doull and Paul Roos in 12th spot on the all time VFL/AFL list. The most games by all players are Brent Harvey (432 games for North Melbourne), Michael Tuck (426 games for Hawthorn), Kevin Bartlett (403 games for Richmond), Dustin Fletcher (400 games for Essendon), Robert Harvey (383 games for St Kilda), Simon Madden (378 games for Essendon), Craig Bradley (375 games for Carlton), Adam Goodes (372 games for the Sydney Swans), Bernie Quinlan (366 games for Footscray and Fitzroy), Brad Johnson (364 games for the Western Bulldogs), John Blakey (359 games for Fitzroy and North Melbourne), Bruce Doull (356 games for Carlton), Paul Roos (356 games for Fitzroy and the Sydney Swans), Shaun Burgoyne (355 games for Port Adelaide and Hawthorn), Matthew Pavlich (353 games for Fremantle), Doug Hawkins (350 games for Footscray and Fitzroy).

100 games – Jeremy McGovern, West Coast
50 games – Jack Lonie, St Kilda
50 games – Majak Daw, North Melbourne
50 games – Jason Castagna, Richmond
50 games – Peter Wright, Gold Coast Suns
50 games – Fletcher Roberts, Western Bulldogs

Most Games, Pair of Brothers – McVeigh family. The McVeigh brothers, Mark and Jarrad, are due to reach 550 combined career games this week, making them the fifth pair of brothers to reach this mark in VFL/AFL history. The leading families are Madden (710 games comprising 378 for Simon and 332 for Justin), Burgoyne (595 games comprising 240 for Peter and 355 for Shaun), Nankervis (578 games comprising 325 for Ian and 253 for Bruce), Cornes (555 games comprising 255 for Chad and 300 for Kane), McVeigh (549 games comprising 232 for Mark and 317 for Jarrad), Coventry (533 games comprising 227 for Syd and 306 for Gordon), Shaw (519 games comprising 237 games for Rhyce and 282 games for Heath), Richardson (518 games comprising 277 for Wayne and 241 for Max), Wakelin (513 games comprising 252 for Darryl and 261 for Shane), Rocca (499 games comprising 257 for Saverio and 242 for Anthony).

Most Career Goals – Lance Franklin, Sydney Swans. Lance needs nine goals to catch Matthew Lloyd in seventh spot for most goals in VFL/AFL history. The most career goals in history: Tony Lockett (1360 goals for St Kilda and the Sydney Swans), Gordon Coventry (1299 goals for Collingwood), Jason Dunstall (1254 goals for Hawthorn), Doug Wade (1057 goals for Geelong and North Melbourne), Gary Ablett senior (1030 goals for Hawthorn and Geelong), Jack Titus (970 goals for Richmond), Matthew Lloyd (926 goals for Essendon), Lance Franklin (917 goals for Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans), Leigh Matthews (915 goals for Hawthorn), Peter McKenna (874 goals for Collingwood and Carlton).

600 career goals – Jack Riewoldt, Richmond. Jack needs three goals to reach 600 career goals, having kicked 597 goals from 246 games since his debut in 2007.

500 career goals – Tom Hawkins, Geelong Cats. Tom needs six goals to reach 500 career goals, having kicked 494 goals from 230 games since his debut in 2008.


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.

The following players were reported from the weekend’s matches:

Sean Lemmens, Gold Coast Suns, reported by umpire Leigh Haussen for striking Brandon Starcevich, Brisbane Lions, during the second quarter of the Round 22 match between the Gold Coast Suns and the Brisbane Lions, played at Metricon Stadium on Saturday August 18, 2018.


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 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. Six matches to serve. Eight matches from round 20.
Nathan Brown, St Kilda. Two matches to serve. Three matches from round 21.
Daniel Howe, Hawthorn. One match to serve. Five matches from round 18.
Taylor Walker, Adelaide Crows. One match to serve. Two matches from round 21.

Completed:
Nil.


6 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


7 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); Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne); 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).


8 CHANGE TO CLUB LIST – INJURY UPGRADE RULES

The GWS Giants have placed Will Setterfield on the long-term injury list and upgraded Zach Sproule from the rookie list as his replacement.


9 SINGLE DAY MEDIA ACCREDITATION PASSES – HOME AND AWAY SEASON

For any media outlets seeking one-off day passes for staff for particular games during the home and away season, please be reminded that requests need to be lodged by the preceding Wednesday 5pm before that weekend of matches. For any new staffers not previously on file, the detail required for a pass is jpeg head shot / mobile number / email address / birth date / mailing address.


10 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.


11 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.