Courtenay Dempsey looks set to play his 50th AFL game this Saturday night against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
 
Dempsey’s milestone heads up Essendon’s involvement in this week’s AFL news.
 
Don't miss this year's Great Grand Final Comedy Debate featuring Australia’s best-known comedians and sporting personalities including comedians Adam Rozenbachs, Denise Scott, Cal Wilson, Anthony “Lehmo” Lehman and radio identity Tom Elliot.
 
PROGRAM OF MATCHES (all times are local) 
 
Friday August 27
Fremantle v Carlton at Subiaco, 6.40pm  
 
Saturday August 28

Geelong Cats v West Coast at Skilled Stadium, 1.10pm

Hawthorn v Collingwood at the MCG, 2.10pm

Adelaide Crows v St Kilda at AAMI Stadium, 3.40pm

Western Bulldogs v Essendon at Etihad Stadium, 7.10pm

Brisbane Lions v Sydney Swans at the Gabba, 7.10pm
 
Sunday August 29

Richmond v Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, 2.10pm

Melbourne v North Melbourne at the MCG, 4.40pm
 
IMPENDING MILESTONES
 
Most Games Coached – Michael Malthouse. Michael is due to coach his 635th match this week since his debut in 1984. This will take him into equal second spot in the history of the game with Kevin Sheedy. The leading five coaches in the game’s history are Jock McHale (714 games with Collingwood), Kevin Sheedy (635 games with Essendon), Michael Malthouse (634 games with Footscray, West Coast and Collingwood), Allan Jeans (575 games with St Kilda, Hawthorn and Richmond) and Tom Hafey (522 games with Richmond, Collingwood, Geelong and Sydney).

Automatic AFL Life Membership – Nathan Eagleton, Western Bulldogs. Nathan qualifies for automatic AFL Life Membership this week with his 300th official game since his debut in 1997, comprising 273 premiership matches with Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs, 21 pre-season games, one State of Origin match and four International Rules games.

200 games – Josh Fraser, Collingwood

200 games – Craig Bolton, Sydney Swans

200 games coached – Paul Roos, Sydney Swans. Paul is due to become the first man in the history of South Melbourne / Sydney Swans to coach the club in 200 games.

150 games – David Rodan, Port Adelaide

150 games coached – Neil Craig, Adelaide Crows. Neil is due to the come the first man in the history of the club to coach for 150 games.

100 games – Jed Adcock, Brisbane Lions

100 games – Brad Fisher, Carlton

50 games – Courtenay Dempsey, Essendon

50 games – Scott Thompson, North Melbourne

50 games – Cale Morton, Melbourne
 
TRIBUNAL MATCH REVIEW PROCESS
 
The following players were reported from the weekend’s matches:
 
Beau Waters, West Coast, reported by umpire Jeff Dalgliesh for engaging in rough conduct against Leigh Adams, North Melbourne, during the first quarter of the Round 21 match between West Coast and North Melbourne, played at Subiaco on Sunday August 22, 2010.
 
2010 AFL ATTENDANCES
 
At the end of round 21, the 2010 Toyota AFL Premiership season has so far seen a total attendance of 6,197,707 – up 2.24 per cent on last year’s figure. The AFL requires a round 22 attendance of 313,549 to exceed the all-time record of 6,511,255 established in 2008. The leading attendance years in the game’s history are:

2008 – 6,511,255

2007 – 6,475,521

2009 – 6,370,350

2005 – 6,283,788

2006 – 6,204,056

2010 – 6,197,707 (after 21 rounds)
 
LONG-TERM INJURY LIST
 
The AFL wishes to advise the following recent changes have been made to club lists, under the provision of the long-term injury-list rules:

Adelaide Crows – Re-instated Brad Moran from the long-term injury list to the senior list, and returned Chris Schmidt to the rookie list.

Adelaide Crows – Upgraded Chris Schmidt from the rookie list as the replacement for Jared Petrenko, who was already on the long-term injury list.

Essendon – Upgraded Stewart Crameri from the rookie list as the replacement for Tayte Pears, who was already on the long-term injury list.

Melbourne – Upgraded Michael Newton from the rookie list as the replacement for Stefan Martin, who was already on the long-term injury list.
 
2010 NAB AFL DRAFT / TRADING PERIOD – KEY DATE
 
The AFL wishes to advise the key dates have been finalised for the 2010 NAB AFL Draft and trading period.
 
Friday October 1, 2pm – Father Son Nominations lodged with the AFL.

Monday October 4, 10am – Father/Son Bidding Meeting (Gold Coast FC not entitled to participate).

Monday October 4 – Monday October 11 – AFL Exchange Period (In additional to normal permitted exchanges, Gold Coast FC may exchange players nominated as 17-year-olds in 2009 who have not accepted a contract offer, players nominated as rookies in 2009 who have not accepted a contract offer, the right to list a player who has previously nominated for the Draft under rule 35.5 and the right to list a priority zone selection from Queensland or the Northern Territory under rule 35.6.

Thursday October 7, 2pm – Gold Coast FC may include on its Primary List up to one listed player from each club (or more than one if the other club agrees) provided the player is uncontracted for the 2011 season.

Friday October 29, 2pm – List Lodgement One. Rookie promotion to Primary List, Retained Second Year and Third Year Rookies, Scholarship player transfer to Primary List or Rookie List; International Scholarship player transfer to Primary List or Rookie List. Gold Coast Players contracted under Rule 35.2 (local talent) may be included on the club Primary List or Rookie list with their consent, Gold Coast FC contracted nominated 17 year-olds included on the Primary list, Gold Coast FC nominated 17 year-olds who have not accepted a contract may be included on the Primary List, Gold Coast FC 2009 rookies who accept a contract offer may be included on the Primary List or Rookie List.

Friday November 5, 2pm – Out of Contract Listed Primary List Players Draft Nomination Deadline.

Friday November 5, 2pm – Draft Nomination Deadline for New or Expired (after three years) Nominations.

Friday November 5, 2pm – Nomination of Use of Compensatory Selection by Clubs that Lose an Uncontracted Player to Gold Coast FC.

Wednesday November 10, 2pm – List Lodgement Two.

Friday November 12, 2pm – Delisted Primary List Draft Nomination Deadline.

Friday November 12, 2pm – Non-Retained Rookie Draft Nomination Deadline.

Friday November 12 – Priority Zone Selections, Queensland and NT.

Thursday November 18 – NAB AFL Draft Selection meeting, Gold Coast Convention Centre.

Tuesday November 23, 2pm – Out of Contract Primary List Draft Nomination Deadline.

Tuesday November 23, 2pm – International Player Inclusion on Rookie List Deadline.

Tuesday November 23, 2pm – Players not Registered for Three Years inclusion on Rookie List Deadline.

Tuesday November 23, 2pm – NSW Scholarship Player and International Scholarship Player inclusion on Rookie List Deadline.

Wednesday November 24, 2pm – List Lodgement Three and TPP Estimates.

Tuesday November 30, 2pm – Delisted Primary List Draft Nomination Deadline.

Tuesday November 30 – Previously Listed Players or Draft Nominated Players Deadline. Gold Coast FC may nominate up to 10 players whose nomination is current for the 2010 Draft but who have not previously been on a Club List or a Primary List.

Tuesday November 30, 2pm – GWS Zone Access. Team GWS to nominate up to 16 draft-eligible players from NSW/ACT outside the current NSW scholarship region.

Tuesday December 7, 10am – NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft Meeting (Microsoft Live Meeting).

Tuesday December 7, 10.10am – Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast FC and Sydney Swans Pre-Selected Rookie Nominations.

Tuesday December 7, 10.15am – NAB AFL Rookie Draft Meeting (Microsoft Live Meeting). Team GWS have selections 1-8 and the Gold Coast FC has selection nine and the first selection in each subsequent round.

Friday December 10, 2pm – Team GWS to Nominate up to 12 17 Year-olds born between January 1 and April 30, 1993.
 
Join the team as we recognise Essendon's best player of the 2010 season at the Crichton Medal night on October 1st 2010.