Since the Bombers are out of the finals action, this week's AFL News highlights the involvement of club greats Kevin Sheedy, Bill Hutchison and Dick Reynolds in a number of milestones.
 
The Bulldogs' Jason Akermanis and Collingwood's Mick Malthouse will join or overtake the Essendon greats in the 'finals played' or 'finals coached' categories when their teams play this weekend.
 
 
PROGRAM OF MATCHES (all times are local)

Week Three Finals

Friday September 18

First Preliminary Final,St Kilda vWestern Bulldogs at the MCG, 7.45pm (series ticket match)

Saturday September 19

Second Preliminary Final, Geelong Cats v Collingwood at the MCG, 7.30pm

IMPENDING MILESTONES

100 games – Travis Cloke, Collingwood

100 games – Jason Gram, St Kilda

100 games – Matt Maguire, St Kilda

Most Finals Played – Jason Akermanis, Western Bulldogs. Jason is due to play his 28th finals match this week, which will take him into equal sixth spot in the history of the game. The most finals by a player in history are Michael Tuck (39 with Hawthorn), Gordon Coventry (31 with Collingwood), Leigh Matthews (29 with Hawthorn), Bruce Doull (29 with Carlton), Wayne Schimmelbusch (29 with North Melbourne), Bill Hutchison (28 with Essendon), Chris Mew (28 with Hawthorn), Gary Ayres (28 with Hawthorn), Harry Collier (27 with Collingwood), Dick Reynolds (27 with Essendon), Kevin Bartlett (27 with Richmond), Martin Pike (27 with Melbourne, North Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions) and Jason Akermanis (27 with the Brisbane Lions and Western Bulldogs).

Most Finals Coached – Michael Malthouse. Michael Malthouse will coach his 43rd finals match this week, taking him into equal second spot with Kevin Sheedy on the all-time list. The leading coaches in finals matches in history are Jock McHale (59 matches with Collingwood), Kevin Sheedy (43 matches with Essendon), Tom Hafey (42 matches with Richmond, Collingwood and the Sydney Swans) and Michael Malthouse (42 matches with Footscray, West Coast and Collingwood).

Longest Wait Between Grand Finals – Footscray / Western Bulldogs. Footscray / Western Bulldogs has currently not played in a Grand Final for 47 seasons, covering the years 1962-2008. This is the fourth-longest drought in the game’s history for any club not to have contested a Grand Final, behind only Fitzroy (52 years from 1945-96), St Kilda (51 years from 1914-64) and South Melburne / Sydney Swans (50 years from 1946-95).

TRIBUNAL MATCH REVIEW PROCESS

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

2009 ALL AUSTRALIAN UMPIRE

The AFL wishes to advise the 2009 All Australian umpire will be named in Grand Final week, when appointments to the 2009 Toyota AFL Grand Final are confirmed. For media who are unaware of the appointment process for AFL umpires, each umpire is assessed weekly on his performance and the leading umpires are appointed to the finals series. During the finals series, umpires are again assessed on their specific match performance and the best umpires proceed through the finals, with the leading three umpires through the finals series appointed to the Grand Final.

AFL ROOKIE LIST, MID-SEASON UPGRADES TO SENIOR LIST

The AFL wishes to advise the following players have been upgraded to club senior lists, since round 11, under the revised rule allowing for one player per club to be upgraded after the mid-point of the season, provided that TPP requirements have been met. Only clubs still in finals contention are listed here below.

Western Bulldogs – Liam Picken (after round 13).

2009 NAB AFL DRAFT KEY DATES

The AFL wishes to advise the key dates for the 2009 NAB AFL Draft / Trading period are as follows (all times are EST): Please note the 2009 NAB AFL Draft will now be held on Thursday November 26, as an evening event, commencing at 6.30pm.

Tue Sept 29 - Commencement of 2009 Draft Camp, AIS Canberra.

Fri Oct 2 - Conclusion of 2009 Draft Camp.

Fri Oct 2, 2pm - Father / son nominations lodged with AFL.

Mon Oct 5, 10am - Father / son bidding meeting (Docklands).

Mon Oct 5 - Commencement of 2009 AFL Exchange Period.

Fri Oct 9, 2pm - Conclusion of 2009 AFL Exchange Period.

Fri Oct 30, 2pm – List Lodgement One. Rookie promotion to Primary List, Retained Second Year Rookies, Retained Third Year International Rookies, Retained Third Year Non-Registered Rookies.

Tue Nov 10, 2pm – Out of Contract Listed AFL Primary List Players Draft Nomination Deadline.

Fri Nov 13, 2pm – List Lodgement Two.

Wed Nov 18, 2pm – Delisted Primary List Player Draft Nomination Deadline.

Thur Nov 26, 6.30pm - 2009 NAB AFL Draft selection meeting.

Tue Dec 1, 2pm – Out of Contract AFL Primary List Player Draft Nomination Deadline, NSW Scholarship-Listed Players and International Scholarship-Listed Players Inclusion on Rookie List Deadline.

Wed Dec 2, 2pm – List Lodgement Three and TPP Estimates.

Tue Dec 8, 2pm – Delisted Primary List Player Draft Nomination Deadline.

Tue Dec 15, 10am – NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft (Microsoft Live meeting).

Tue Dec 15, 10.15am – Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans Rookie List Nominations, Third Year Rookie List Nominations.

Tue Dec 15, 10.20am – NAB AFL Rookie Draft (Microsoft Live meeting).