Here follows the AFL news list for this week.
1 PROGRAM OF MATCHES (all times are local)
Round Two:
Friday April 1
Collingwood v Richmond at the MCG, 7.50pm; Curtain Raiser – AFL Academy v Werribee, 4.35pm
Saturday April 2
Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, 1.15pm; Curtain Raiser (women’s match) - SANFL All Stars at 10.15am
Essendon v Melbourne at the MCG, 2.10pm
Brisbane Lions v North Melbourne at the Gabba, 3.35pm
Fremantle v Gold Coast Suns at Domain Stadium, 4.40pm
St Kilda v Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium, 7.25pm
Sunday April 3
GWS Giants v Geelong Cats at StarTrack Oval, 1.10pm
Hawthorn v West Coast at the MCG, 3.20pm
Carlton v Sydney Swans at Etihad Stadium, 4.40pm
2 IMPENDING MILESTONES
Life Membership – Gary Ablett. Gary is due to qualify for AFL Life Membership this week with his 300th official game since his debut in 2002, comprising 275 premiership games for the Geelong Cats and the Gold Coast Suns and 24 pre-season games.
300 games – Nick Riewoldt. Nick is due to become the fifth player in club history to reach 300 games, joining Robert Harvey (383 games), Nathan Burke (323 games), Stewart Loewe (321 games) and Barry Breen (300 games).
Most Games Coached – John Worsfold. John Worsfold is due to coach his 283rd league game this week, drawing him level with Mark Thompson (283 games as coach for the Geelong Cats and Essendon) in 20th spot in the game’s history.
100 games – Daniel Talia, Adelaide Crows
100 games – Zach Tuohy, Carlton
50 games – Joe Daniher, Essendon
50 games – Sam Docherty, Carlton
50 club games – Kurt Tippett, Sydney Swans
50 consecutive games – Cam Guthrie, Geelong Cats. Cam has played 49 consecutive games since the 2013 Qualifying Final.
350 father/ son combined games – Jack Hawkins, Tom Hawkins. The Hawkins family will reach 350 combined father/son games this week with Tom due to play his 168th game for Geelong this week after father Jack played 182 games for the club.
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 match review panel sat yesterday, Monday March 28, to review the first eight matches of round one and will review the Geelong Cats v Hawthorn match later today.
The following players were reported from yesterday’s game:
Ben Stratton, Hawthorn, reported by umpire Scott Jeffery for striking Cory Gregson, Geelong Cats, during the third quarter of the Round One match between Hawthorn and the Geelong Cats, played at the MCG on Monday March 28, 2016.
Mitch Duncan, Geelong Cats, reported by umpire Scott Jeffery for engaging in rough conduct against Luke Hodge, Hawthorn, during the fourth quarter of the Round One match between the Geelong Cats and Hawthorn, played at the MCG on Monday March 28, 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 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:
Aaron Sandilands, Fremantle. One match from NAB Challenge.
Dale Thomas, Carlton. One match from NAB Challenge.
Dayne Zorko, Brisbane Lions. One match from NAB Challenge.
Currently Suspended:
Nakia Cockatoo, Geelong Cats. One match to serve. Two matches from NAB Challenge.
Courtenay Dempsey, Essendon. Two matches to serve. Four matches from round 22, 2015.
Jeremy Cameron, GWS Giants. Three matches to serve. Four matches from NAB Challenge.
Pending:
Steele Sidebottom, Collingwood. Was offered a two-match sanction by the MRP from round one.
6 APPLICATIONS FOR DAY PASSES FOR AFL MATCHES
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 premiership season. 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. Please contact Patrick Keane for any further queries.
7 NOMINATED ROOKIE
The AFL wishes to advise the following players have been promoted to the senior list under the various provisions of the rookie rules:
Carlton – Ciaran Byrne (pre-season nominated rookie promotion).
Collingwood – Corey Gault (pre-season nominated rookie promotion).
Essendon – Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (WADA-banned player rookie promotion).
Gold Coast Suns – Danny Stanley (pre-season nominated rookie promotion).
North Melbourne – Majak Daw (pre-season nominated rookie promotion).
Port Adelaide – Nathan Krakouer (pre-season nominated rookie promotion).
Richmond – Jason Castagna (pre-season nominated rookie promotion).
8 LONG TERM INJURY LIST
The AFL wishes to advise the following recent changes have been made to player lists, via the long-term injury list rules:
The Geelong Cats placed Jackson Thurlow on the long-term injury list with no replacement named from the rookie list as this time.
The Gold Coast Suns placed David Swallow on the long-term injury list and upgraded Ryan Davis from the rookie list as his replacement.
The Sydney Swans upgraded Tom Papley from the rookie list as the replacement for Gary Rohan, who was already on the long-term injury list.
The Sydney Swans placed Alex Johnson the long-term injury list with no replacement named from the rookie list at this time.
West Coast placed Mitch Brown on the long-term injury list and upgraded Brant Colledge from the rookie list as his replacement.
9 SIMONDS STADIUM MEDIA ACCESS DURING REDEVELOPMENT
For all matches at Simonds Stadium this season, during the Brownlow Stand re-development, enclosed, flat footwear must be worn.
10 2016 FEMALE FOOTBALL EXHIBITION SERIES
Please find attached the schedule of remaining matches for 2016 (all times are local):
Western Bulldogs defeated Melbourne on March 6.
Saturday April 2
SANFL All Stars at Adelaide Oval, 10.15am
Saturday April 9
Sydney Swans v GWS Giants at the SCG, 1.40pm
West Coast Eagles v Fremantle at Domain Stadium, 3.10pm
Sunday April 10
Northern Territory v Tasmania at Peanut Reserve St Kilda, 12.10pm
Saturday April 16
Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns at the Gabba, 7.40pm
Round 2
Sunday May 22
Melbourne v Queensland at the MCG, 10.40am
Sunday June 5
Western Bulldogs v Western Australia at Etihad Stadium, 12.40pm
South Australia v New South Wales at Adelaide Oval, 1.10pm
Round Three – Hampson-Hardeman Cup
Saturday September 2
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne at venue tbc, 7.20pm
11 FIXTURE FOR 2016 NAB AFL U18s CHAMPIONSHIPS
Division 2
Fri May 6, NT v Tas at TIO Stadium, 5.30pm
Sun May 8, NSW/ACT v Qld at Blacktown, 11am
Sun May 14, NT v Qld at Blundstone Arena, 10am
Sun May 14, Tas v NSW/ACT at Blundstone Arena, 12.15pm
Sun May 22, Qld v Tas at Metricon Stadium, 11am
Sun May 22, NSW/ACT v NT at Metricon Stadium, 1.30pm
Division 1
Sat June 4, SA v Allies at AAMI Stadium, 10.30am
Sun June 5, WA v Vic Country at Perth, 11am
Sun June 12, SA v WA at AAMI Stadium, 11.20am
Mon June 13, Vic Country v Vic Metro at Simonds Stadium, 12pm
Sat June 18, WA v Allies at Perth, 11.20am
Sun June 19, SA v Vic Metro at AAMI Stadium, 10.45am
Fri June 24, SA v Vic Country at Etihad Stadium, 12.35pm
Fri June 24, Allies v Vic Metro at Etihad Stadium, 2.35pm
Wed June 29, Vic Metro v WA at Simonds Stadium, 3.05pm
Wed June 29, Vic Country v Allies at Simonds Stadum, 5.05pm
12 FIXTURE FOR 2016 NAB AFL U16s CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sat June 11, Tas v Qld at Hobart, 12pm
Sat June 11, NT v NSW/ACT at Darwin, 6.30pm
Sat June 25, SA v WA at Adelaide, 11.20am
Sun June 26, Vic Metro v Vic Country at 11.30am
Mon July 4, SA v Vic Metro at Metricon Stadium, 1pm
Mon July 4, Vic Country v WA at Metricon Stadium, 3pm
Tues July 5, NSW/ACT v Qld at Metricon Stadium, 11am
Tues July 5, Tas v NT at Metricon Stadium, 1pm
Fri July 8, SA v Vic Country at Southport, 10am
Fri July 8, Vic Metro v WA at Southport, 12pm
Sat July 9, NSW/ACT v Tas at Southport, 10am
Sat July 9, Qld v NT at Southport, 12pm
13 FATHER SON PERMISSION TO TRAIN LIST
The AFL has given the following players permission to train with clubs under the provision of the rules relating to father-son players in their lead-up year to the national draft.
Callum Brown, son of Gavin Brown (254 games for Collingwood).
Josh Daicos, son of Peter Daicos (250 games for Collingwood).
Matthew Neagle, son of Merv Neagle (147 games for Essendon. Also played for Sydney Swans).
Lachlan Richardson, son of Alan Richardson (114 games for Collingwood).
Michael Romero, son of Jose Romero (122 games for the Western Bulldogs. Also played for North Melbourne).
14 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.
15 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.
16 MEDIA ENTRY TO ETIHAD STADIUM, PRIOR TO PUBLIC GATE TIMES / COLLECTION OF AFL RECORDS
All media who require entry to Etihad Stadium before public gates are open can do the following: Media may enter via Gate 9 from Level B3 (carpark) and Level 1 (concourse) one and a half hours prior to gate entry time. There will be a staff member at each entry point who will check AFL accreditation and will grant access to the Corporate Suites Level where they can access the Press Box, Radio Boxes and TV Broadcast area. A match day AFL record can be collected (one per person) from the customer service staff on the corporate suites level.
