Here follows the AFL news list for this week.

1 PROGRAM OF MATCHES (all times are local)

AFL (Round 20):
Friday August 4
Geelong Cats v Sydney Swans at Simonds Stadium, 7.50pm

Saturday August 5
GWS Giants v Melbourne at UNSW Canberra Oval, 1.45pm; Curtain Raiser – Giants Academy v Demons, 10.20am
Essendon v Carlton at the MCG, 2.10pm
Brisbane Lions v Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, 4.35pm
Fremantle v Gold Coast Suns at Domain Stadium, 5.40pm
North Melbourne v Collingwood at Etihad Stadium, 7.25pm; Curtain Raiser (VFL) – Werribee v Collingwood, 3.45pm

Sunday August 6
St Kilda v West Coast at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm
Richmond v Hawthorn at the MCG, 3.20pm
Adelaide Crows v Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval, 4.10pm; Curtain Raiser – SANFL Schoolgirl Knockout Grand Final, 2.05pm


2 IMPENDING MILESTONES

Most Games, Pair of Brothers – Burgoyne family. The Burgoyne brothers (Peter 240 games and Shaun 337 games) are due to draw level with the Nankervis brothers (Ian 325 games and Bruce 253 games) in second spot for most games by a pair of brothers in VFL/AFL history. The leading families are Madden (710 games comprising 378 for Simon and 332 for Justin), Nankervis (578 games comprising 325 for Ian and 253 for Bruce), Burgoyne (577 games comprising 240 for Peter and 337 for Shaun), Cornes (555 games comprising 255 for Chad and 300 for Kane), Coventry (533 games comprising 227 for Syd and 306 for Gordon), McVeigh (526 games comprising 232 for Mark and 294 for Jarrad), 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), Shaw (492 games comprising 237 games for Rhyce and 255 games for Heath).

550 father / son games – Gary Ablett senior / Gary Ablett junior. Gary junior is due to play his 302nd game this week, after father Gary senior played 248 games for Hawthorn and the Geelong Cats. The pair will become the fifth in VFL/AFL history to reach 550 games by a father/son pair. The most games by a father/son pair are Fletcher (664 games comprising 264 games for Ken and 400 games for Dustin), Tuck (599 games comprising 426 games for Michael and 173 games for Shane), Cloke (586 games comprising 333 games for David and 253 games for Travis), Silvagni (551 games comprising 239 games for Sergio and 312 games for Stephen), Ablett (549 games comprising 248 games for Gary senior and 301 games for Gary junior), Watson (523 games comprising 307 games for Tim and 216 games for Jobe), Scarlett (496 games comprising 212 games for John and 284 games for Matthew), Murphy (478 games comprising 246 games for John and 232 games for Marc), Whitten (465 games comprising 321 games for Ted snr and 144 games for Ted jnr), Tuck (446 games comprising 426 games for Michael and 20 games for Travis).

250 games – Jarryd Roughead, Hawthorn

Most Club Games – Michael Johnson, Fremantle. Michael is due to play his 228th game this week since his debut in 2005, drawing level with Shaun McManus in sixth spot in club history. The most games for Fremantle are Matthew Pavlich (353 games, 2000-16), David Mundy (268 games, 2005 - current), Aaron Sandilands (254 games, 2003 - current), Luke McPharlin (244 games, 2002-15), Shane Parker (238 games, 1995-2007), Shaun McManus (228 games, 1995-2008), Michael Johnson (227 games, 2005 - current), Paul Hasleby (208 games, 2000-10), Antoni Grover (202 games, 1999-2012) and Ryan Crowley (188 games, 2005-14).

150 games – Lewis Jetta, West Coast

Consecutive Games From Debut – Sam Gibson, North Melbourne. Sam is due to play his 127th consecutive game since his debut in Round 12, 2012, equalling the mark of Melbourne’s Dick Taylor as the third-best streak from debut in VFL/AFL history. Most games from debut are Jared Crouch (194 games for the Sydney Swans, 1998-2006), John Murphy (158 games for Fitzroy, 1967-74), Dick Taylor (127 games for Melbourne, 1922-29), Sam Gibson (126 games for North Melbourne, 2012- current), David Mundy (124 games for Fremantle, 2005-10) and Steve Wallis (113 games for Footscray, 1983-87).

100 club games / 100 games at two clubs – Danyle Pearce, Fremantle
100 games – Tom Lynch, Adelaide Crows

100 consecutive games – Brandon Ellis, Richmond. Brandon has played 99 consecutive games since round 12, 2013. Brandon has the fourth-longest current active streak in the AFL behind Sam Gibson (126 consecutive games for North Melbourne), Zach Tuohy (108 consecutive games for Carlton and the Geelong Cats) and Shaun Burgoyne (101 consecutive games for Hawthorn).

50 games – Jake Lever, Adelaide Crows
50 games – Rory Lobb, GWS Giants
50 games – Jesse Hogan, Melbourne
50 games – Tom Boyd, Western Bulldogs

500 career goals – Josh Kennedy, West Coast. Josh has kicked 499 career goals.


3 TRIBUNAL MATCH REVIEW PROCESS

The expected process for the 2017 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.

There were no players reported from the weekend’s matches.


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 2017 AFL INTERNATIONAL CUP

The 2017 AFL International Cup will be officially launched at Government House, Melbourne, on Saturday, August 5. Twenty-six teams will compete in the carnival; 18 men’s and eight women’s. The first round of matches will be played at Royal Park in Melbourne, on Sunday, August 6. The full fixture is available here: http://www.afl.com.au/internationalcup/

Men’s teams: Canada, China, Croatia, Fiji, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Nauru, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Sri Lanka, USA.

Women’s teams: Canada, European Crusaders, Fiji, Great Britain, Ireland, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, USA.

The AFL International Cup is played every three years. No expatriate Australians are eligible to play. Teams comprise solely of amateurs who must be nationals of the country they represent.

For media enquiries, please contact Lilly Skacej: lilly.skacej@afl.com.au


6 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:
Bernie Vince, Melbourne. Two matches from round 17.
Jack Redpath, Western Bulldogs. One match from round 18.
Dayne Zorko, Brisbane Lions. One match from round 18.

Currently Suspended:
Tomas Bugg, Melbourne. Two matches to serve. Six matches from round 15.
Toby Greene, GWS Giants. One match to serve. Two matches from round 18.


7 UPGRADED ROOKIES

As a reminder to all media, the following players have been upgraded to senior lists under the provisions of the pre-season / mid-season nominated rookie rules:
Adelaide Crows – Jonathon Beech (mid-season).
Collingwood – Henry Schade (pre-season).
Collingwood – Josh Thomas (mid-season).
Essendon – Shaun McKernan (mid-season).
Gold Coast Suns – Ryan Davis (mid-season).
GWS Giants – Daniel Lloyd (pre-season).
GWS Giants – Sam Reid (pre-season).
GWS Giants – Jake Stein (mid-season).
Melbourne – Joel Smith (mid-season).
North Melbourne – Cameron Zurhaar (mid-season)
Port Adelaide – Brett Eddy (pre-season).
Port Adelaide – Dan Houston (pre-season).
St Kilda – Rowan Marshall (mid-season).
West Coast – Fraser McInnes (mid-season).


8 LONG TERM INJURY LIST

The AFL wishes to advise the following changes have been made to club lists via the long-term injury list rules;

The Gold Coast Suns have placed Kade Kolodjashnij on the long-term injury list and upgraded Max Spencer from the rookie list as his replacement.
Hawthorn has reinstated Kieran Lovell to the senior list from the long-term injury list and returned Jack Fitzpatrick to the rookie list.
Melbourne has upgraded Corey Maynard from the rookie list as the replacement for Patrick McKenna, who was already on the long-term injury list.


9 KEY DATES, NAB AFL TRADE PERIOD / DRAFT PROCESS

Please find below the INDICATIVE key dates for the 2017 season around club list requirements, NAB AFL Trade Period and the NAB AFL Draft Process:

Tuesday 3 October – Friday 6 October – AFL Draft Combine
Friday 6 October - AFL Restricted Free Agency Offer and Unrestricted Free Agency Period Commences
Monday 9 October 9am - NAB AFL Trade Period Commences
Saturday 14 October - South Australian Draft Combine
Sunday 15 October - West Australian Draft Combine
Sunday 15 October 5pm - Close of AFL Restricted Free Agency Offer and Unrestricted Free Agency Period.
Wednesday 18 October - AFL Restricted Free Agency Matching Offer Three-Day Period Ends
Thursday 19 October 2pm – NAB AFL Trade Period Closes
Friday 20 October 5pm - Application to Relist a Player Close
Tuesday 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).
Wednesday 1 November - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (1) Commences
Wednesday 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
Thursday 9 November 2pm - List Lodgement (2); TPP Pre-Season Estimates (2)
Friday 10 November - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Commences
Friday 17 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 17 November 5pm - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (2) Closes
Friday 24 November - NAB AFL Draft Selection Meeting (Sydney, time and location tbc) including Father/Son & Academy Players Bidding.
Saturday 25 November - AFL Delisted Player Free Agency Period (3) Commences
Sunday 26 November 2pm - AFL Delisted Free Agency Period (3) Concludes
Monday 27 November - AFL Club List Lodgement (3).
Monday 27 November 5pm - NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft Selection Meeting (Telstra Webex)
Monday 27 November 5.05pm - Notification of Pre-Selected Rookies if not selected in the Pre-Season Draft.
Monday 27 November 5.10pm - NAB AFL Rookie Draft Selection Meeting (Telstra Webex)
Wednesday 29 November 2pm - Final AFL Club List Lodgement; Final TPP Pre-Season Estimates


10 AFL PHOTOGRAPHER ONFIELD VESTS

For all accredited photographers for the 2017 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, only those with an on-field vest may access the playing surface inside the boundary line for the quarter breaks and post-game when players are leaving the field. All other photographers must remain between the fence and boundary line under the accreditation terms. 2017 on-field vests are fluro green with 2017 on back (accredited organisations), dark blue (AFL photos) and light blue (club/AFL social media).


11 2017 NAB AFL DRAFT – TRADED FUTURE SELECTIONS / DRAFT PENALTY

As a reminder to all media, the following selections at this year’s 2017 NAB AFL Draft were traded during last year’s trade period.

Round One:
Brisbane Lions, received from Port Adelaide.
St Kilda, received from Hawthorn.
Richmond, received from the Geelong Cats, via Carlton and GWS Giants’ on-trades.

Round Two:
Geelong Cats, received from Carlton.
Gold Coast Suns, received from Fremantle.
Gold Coast Suns, received from Richmond.
Gold Coast Suns, received from Hawthorn.
GWS Giants, received from Collingwood.
GWS Giants, received from St Kilda.
Hawthorn, received from GWS Giants, via Carlton.

Round Three:
Brisbane Lions, received from Collingwood.
Collingwood, received from the Brisbane Lions.
Western Bulldogs, received from North Melbourne.
Richmond, received from the GWS Giants.
North Melbourne, received from the Western Bulldogs.

Round Four:
Collingwood, received from the Brisbane Lions.
Fremantle, received from the Gold Coast Suns.
St Kilda, received from North Melbourne, via Western Bulldogs on-trade.
North Melbourne, received from the Western Bulldogs.

Round Five
Western Bulldogs, received from St Kilda.

Further, the GWS Giants had a penalty of 1000 draft points imposed by the AFL Commission at a hearing in Melbourne on December 22, 2016. The penalty of 1000 points will be deducted from the round one pick the club is assigned after the completion of the 2017 Toyota AFL Finals Series.


12 2017 CLUB NEXT GENERATION ACADEMIES, 2017 DRAFT ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

The following players, who are registered with Club Next Generation Academies, are draft-age eligible for the 2017 NAB AFL Draft:
Carlton – Ethan Penrith (Reservoir); Artan Cabdi (Heidelberg Heights).
Essendon – Daniel Hanna (East Keilor).
Geelong Cats – Titak Nyak (Corio).
Hawthorn – Tony Olungu (Marrara); Changkuoth Jiath (Morwell); Bol Jok (Pakenham); Tyrone Hayes (Lakes Entrance).
Richmond – Derek Smith (Mildura); David Smith (Shepparton); Anthony Walker (Kialla).


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.


14 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.