The Bombers' crunch game with St Kilda this Sunday at Etihad Stadium heads Essendon's involvement in the AFL Weekly News.
 
Essendon sits half a game out of the top eight but faces possibly its biggest challenge of the season against the Saints to remain in the finals hunt.
 
PROGRAM OF MATCHES (all times are local)
 
Round Twenty (Green Round). Round 20 is AFL Green Round and will highlight the impact of climate change on Australian Football. The round will be formally launched tomorrow, Tuesday August 11.

Friday August 14

Hawthorn v Adelaide at the MCG, 7.40pm

Saturday August 15

Richmond v Collingwood at the MCG, 2.10pm

West Coast v North Melbourne at Subiaco, 2.10pm; Curtain Raiser – AFL Sports Ready Cup Grand Final, 12.10pm

Brisbane Lions v Western Bulldogs at the Gabba, 7.10pm

Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats at ANZ Stadium, 7.10pm; Curtain Raiser – Sydney Reserves v Tuggeranong, 3.50pm

Sunday August 16

Melbourne v Fremantle at the MCG, 1.10pm

Port Adelaide v Carlton at AAMI Stadium, 2.40pm; Curtain Raiser – School Girls Secondary Cup Final, 1.05pm

Essendon v St Kilda at Docklands, 4.40pm

IMPENDING MILESTONES

Fastest to 250 games – Adam Goodes, Sydney Swans. Adam is due to play his 250th game this week and will become the second-fastest person in history to reach this milestone, coming 10 years and 140 days after his debut. The fastest players to 250 games in history are Wayne Schimmelbusch (10 years, 113 days), Ben Hart (11 years, seven days), Brad Johnson (11 years, seven days), Craig Bradley (11 years, 27 days) and Andrew McLeod (11 years, 28 days).

200 games – Scott Welsh, Western Bulldogs

200games – Josh Carr, Port Adelaide

200 games – Leigh Brown, Collingwood

200 club games – Nathan Eagleton, Western Bulldogs

100 games – Jordan Lewis, Hawthorn

100 games – Matt Maguire, St Kilda

50 games – Dean Polo, Richmond

Most Consecutive Wins – St Kilda. St Kilda has won its last 19 games and has now equalled the fifth-best streak in the history of the game. The leading streaks in history are Geelong (23 wins from round 12, 1952 – Round 13, 1953), Collingwood (20 wins from Semi Final, 1928 – Round 18, 1929), Essendon (20 wins from Round 1, 2000 – Round 20, 2000), Brisbane Lions (20 wins from Round 10, 2001 – Round Four, 2002) and Melbourne (19 wins from Round 15, 1955 to Round 13, 1956).

TRIBUNAL MATCH REVIEW PROCESS

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

James Gwilt, St Kilda, reported by umpire Brett Rosebury for making forceful contact from front-on against Jordan Lewis, Hawthorn, during the third quarter of the Round 19 match between St Kilda and Hawthorn, played at Aurora Stadium on Saturday August 8, 2009.

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.

North Melbourne – Placed Ben Warren on the long-term injury list, with no replacement named at this stage.

North Melbourne – Placed Jack Ziebell on the long-term injury list, with no replacement named at this stage.

Melbourne – Placed Addam Maric on the long-term injury list, with no replacement named at this stage.

Port Adelaide – Placed Marlon Motlop on the long-term injury list, with no replacement named at this stage.

West Coast – Placed Daniel Kerr on the long-term injury list, with no replacement named at this stage.

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).