Essendon's crunch game against West Coast in Perth this Sunday heads the club's involvement in this week's AFL Weekly News.
 
PROGRAM OF MATCHES (all times are local)

Round Eighteen

Friday July 31

North Melbourne v Carlton at Docklands, 7.40pm

Saturday August 1

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle at Docklands, 2.10pm

Geelong Cats v Adelaide at Skilled Stadium, 2.10pm

Sydney Swans v St Kilda at the SCG, 7.10pm; Curtain Raiser – Sydney Reserves v Belconnen, 3.50pm

Collingwood v Brisbane Lions at the MCG, 7.10pm

Sunday August 2

Melbourne v Richmond at the MCG, 1.10pm

Port Adelaide v Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium, 2.40pm

West Coast v Essendon at Subiaco, 2.40pm

IMPENDING MILESTONES

Club Record Games – Brad Johnson, Western Bulldogs. Brad is due to play his 342nd game this week since his debut in 1994, breaking the club record held by Chris Grant since his retirement in 2007.

250 games – Darren Milburn, Geelong. Darren is due to play his 250th game this week since his debut in 1997, becoming the seventh player in the history of the club to reach this mark after Ian Nankervis (325 games), John Newman (300 games), Peter Riccardi (288 games), Garry Hocking (274 games), Paul Couch (259 games) and Bruce Nankervis (253 games).

250 games – Simon Black, Brisbane Lions

200 games – Scott Welsh, Western Bulldogs

200games – Josh Carr, Port Adelaide

150 games – Jimmy Bartel, Geelong Cats

100 games – Nathan Bock, Adelaide

100 games – Matt Maguire, St Kilda

50 games – Brad Symes, Adelaide

50 games – Raphael Clarke, St Kilda

50 games – Luke McGuane, Richmond

50 games – Will Thursfield, Richmond

TRIBUNAL MATCH REVIEW PROCESS

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

Dean Solomon, Fremantle, reported by umpire Matthew James for charging Andrew Embley, West Coast, during the first quarter of the Round 17 match between Fremantle and West Coast, played at Subiaco on Saturday July 25, 2009.

Tim Notting, Brisbane Lions, reported by umpire Hayden Kennedy for striking Scott Thompson, North Melbourne, during the first quarter of the Round 17 match between the Brisbane Lions and North Melbourne, played at the Gabba on Saturday July 25, 2009.
 
ROUND 17 AFL ATTENDANCES

The AFL attendance figure for round 17 of the 2009 Toyota AFL Premiership Season of361,003 was the third-best single round in the history of the game. The leading attendance figures in history for a single round are as follows:

367,974 - Round 22, 1998

364,544 - Round 1, 2007

361,003 – Round 17, 2009

357,948 - Round 21, 2007

350,885 - Round 3, 2008

349,054 - Round 1, 2009

346,177 -- Round 3, 2005

344,536 -- Round 3, 2007

342,376 -- Round 11, 2007

340,193 -- Round 6, 2006

AFL LONG-TERM INJURY LIST

The AFL wishes to advise the following recent changes have been made to club lists, under the provision of the AFL injury list rules.

Brisbane Lions – Re-instated Kieran King from the long-term injury list to the senior list, and returned Pearce Hanley to the rookie list.

Brisbane Lions – Placed Jamie Charman on the long-term injury list and upgraded Pearce Hanley from the rookie list as his replacement.

Brisbane Lions – Placed Bart McCulloch on the long-term injury list and upgraded Joel Tippett from the rookie list as his replacement.

Carlton – Re-instated Robert Warnock from the long-term injury list to the senior list, and returned Jeffrey Garlett to the rookie list.

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.

North Melbourne – Cruize Garlett (after round 11).

Richmond – Robin Nahas (after round 11).

Port Adelaide – Danny Meyer (after round 11).

West Coast – Adam Cockie (after round 13).

Western Bulldogs – Liam Picken (after round 13).

Adelaide - Brodie Martin (after round 15).

Fremantle – Jay Van Berlo (after round 16).

Melbourne – Jordie McKenzie (after round 16)

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):

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.

Sat Nov 28 - 2009 NAB AFL Draft selection meeting (Docklands).

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).