Essendon's massive clash with Collingwood this Friday night at the MCG heads the Bombers' involvement in this week's AFL News. 
 
Both teams are in the top eight and are coming off big wins which sets the stage for an incredible battle infront of around 85,000 fans.
 
PROGRAM OF MATCHES (all times are local)

Round Fourteen

Friday July 3

Collingwood v Essendon at the MCG, 7.40pm

Saturday July 4

Melbourne v West Coast at the MCG, 2.10pm

Port Adelaide v Brisbane Lions at AAMI Stadium, 2.40pm

Richmond v Adelaide at Gold Coast Stadium, 7.10pm; Curtain Raiser (TAC Cup) – Gold Coast FC v Murray Bushrangers, 3.20pm

Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn at Docklands, 7.10pm

Sunday July 5

Sydney Swans v North Melbourne at the SCG, 1.10pm; Curtain Raiser – Sydney Reserves v Ainslie, 9.50am

St Kilda v Geelong Cats at Docklands, 3.10pm

Fremantle v Carlton at Subiaco, 12.40pm; Curtain Raiser – Belt Up Cup Cable Grand Final, 12.40pm

NAB AFL Under 18s Championships (round five)

Wednesday July 1

Tasmania v NSW/ACT at Docklands, 9.35am

Queensland v Northern Territory at Docklands, 11.40am

Vic Country v Western Australia at Docklands, 1.45pm

Vic Metro v South Australia at Docklands, 3.50pm

NAB AFL Under 16s Championships (round one)

Division One

Saturday July 4

Vic Country v Vic Metro at Blacktown, 11am

SA v WA at Blacktown, 1.30pm

Division Two

Friday July 3

Qld v NSW/ACT at Blacktown, 12pm

Sunday July 5

Tas v NT at Blacktown, 6.30pm
 
IMPENDING MILESTONES

450 games umpired – Hayden Kennedy

Most wins coached – Michael Malthouse, Collingwood. Collingwood’s win on Saturday was the 336th for Michael as a senior coach, drawing him into equal fourth spot with Tom Hafey on the all-time list. The most wins for coaches in the history of the game are Jock McHale (467 wins from 714 games), Kevin Sheedy (386 wins from 635 games), Allan Jeans (358 wins from 575 games), Tom Hafey (336 wins from 522 games) and Michael Malthouse (336 wins from 601 games).

250 games - Simon Goodwin, Adelaide. Simon is due to become the seventh player in the history of the club to reach 250 games, joining Andrew McLeod (316 games), Mark Ricciuto (312 games), Ben Hart (311 games), Tyson Edwards (301 games), Nigel Smart (278 games) and Mark Bickley (272 games).

250 games – Nathan Eagleton, Western Bulldogs

150 games – Jason Blake, St Kilda

100 consecutive games from debut – David Mundy, Fremantle. David is due to play his 100th consecutive match since his debut in Round 6, 2005, making him the seventh person in the history of the game to achieve the feat, joining Jared Crouch (194 games between 1998-2006), John Murphy (158 games between 1967-74), Dick Taylor (127 games between 1922-29), Steven Wallis (113 games between 1983-87), Shane Woewodin (107 games between 1997-2001) and Ian Law (100 games between 1960-65).

100 games – Matt Maguire, St Kilda

100 games as captain – Brad Johnson, Western Bulldogs. Brad is due to become the fourth player in the history of the club to captain the team for 100 games, joining Ted Whitten (212 games), Scott Wynd (139 games) and Arthur Olliver (127 games).

50 games – Shannon Hurn, West Coast

50 games – Tom Logan, Port Adelaide

TRIBUNAL MATCH REVIEW PROCESS

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

Jesse White, Sydney Swans, reported by umpire Scott McLaren for striking Bernie Vince, Adelaide, during the second quarter of the Round 13 match between the Sydney Swans and Adelaide, played at AAMI Stadium on Saturday June 27, 2009.

Barry Hall, Sydney Swans, reported by umpire Hayden Kennedy for striking Ben Rutten, Adelaide, during the third quarter of the Round 13 match between the Sydney Swans and Adelaide, played at AAMI Stadium on Saturday June 27, 2009.

Heath Grundy, Sydney Swans, reported by umpire Scott McLaren for striking Nathan Bock, Adelaide, during the fourth quarter of the Round 13 match between the Sydney Swans and Adelaide, played at AAMI Stadium on Saturday June 27, 2009.

Jordan Lewis, Hawthorn, reported by umpire Troy Pannell for engaging in rough conduct against Adam Selwood, West Coast, during the first quarter of the Round 13 match between Hawthorn and West Coast, played at Subiaco on Saturday June 27, 2009.

Andrew Embley, West Coast, reported by umpire Troy Pannell for wrestling Jordan Lewis, Hawthorn, during the second quarter of the Round 13 match between West Coast and Hawthorn, played at Subiaco on Saturday June 27, 2009.

Jordan Lewis, Hawthorn, reported by umpire Troy Pannell for wrestling Andrew Embley, West Coast, during the second quarter of the Round 13 match between Hawthorn and West Coast, played at Subiaco on Saturday June 27, 2009.

Peter Burgoyne, Port Adelaide, reported by umpire Jacob Mollison for engaging in rough conduct against James Kelly, Geelong Cats, during the second quarter of the Round 13 match between Port Adelaide and the Geelong Cats, played at Skilled Stadium on Sunday June 28, 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.

Hawthorn – Re-instated Max Bailey from the long-term injury list and returned Garry Moss to the rookie list.

Richmond – Upgraded Jarrod Silvester from the rookie list as the replacement for Matthew Richardson, who was already on the long-term injury 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.

Richmond – Robin Nahas.

Port Adelaide – Danny Meyer.

2009 NAB AFL Under 18s Championships

The 2009 NAB AFL Under Championships are now underway. Under the format that will apply this year, to allow for a greater exposure of elite young players, all teams will play five matches. Teams in Division One will play all three other Division One sides and two sides from Division Two. Teams in Division Two will play all three other Division Two sides and two sides from Division One.

Results so far

WA 4-0

Vic Country 3-1

SA 3-1

NSW/ACT 2-2

Vic Metro 2-2

NT 1-3

Tas 1-3

Qld 0-4

Matches to Come

Round Five

July 1

Tas v NSW/ACT at Docklands

Qld v NT at Docklands

Vic Country v WA at Docklands

Vic Metro v SA at Docklands

2009 NAB AFL Under 16s Championships / Key Dates

The 2009 NAB AFL Under 16s Championships will be played at Blacktown in Western Sydney from July 4 to July 11. Please find attached the fixture for Division One and Division Two as follows:

Division One

Saturday July 4

Vic Country v Vic Metro at Blacktown, 11am

SA v WA at Blacktown, 1.30pm

Tuesday July 7

Vic Metro v SA at Blacktown, 11am

WA v Vic Country at Blacktown, 2.30pm

Friday July 10

Vic Metro v WA at Blacktown, 10am

SA v Vic Country at Blacktown, 12.30pm

Division Two

Friday July 3

Qld v NSW/ACT at Blacktown, 12pm

Sunday July 5

Tas v NT at Blacktown, 6.30pm

Wednesday July 8

NT v Qld at Rouse Hill, 11am

NSW/ACT v Tas at Rouse Hill, 1.30pm

Saturday July 11

Qld v Tas at Blacktown, 10am

NT v NSW/ACT at Blacktown, 12.30pm

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).