Campbell Brown

The following is the time line for the the Grand Final day events including key times for match and TV related activities. All times are listed first in Australian AEST and then in US EDT. This is based on information from the AFL, AFANA, press reports and past history. This story will be periodically updated with late information. (Revised 9/25/14)

Brook “Boris” Kilpatrick reporting for AFANA

Richmond headed north to Cairns in preparation for their third - and surely final - attempt to defeat the Gold Coast Suns at Cazaly Stadium. The ill-fated deal by Richmond CEO Brendan Gale to sell three home games to play in Cairns had backfired on the club which had lost both previous encounters in the tropical climes and incurred the wrath of the supporter group in the process. The stakes were even higher for the Round 16 clash with an improved Suns lining up against a chastened Richmond group, coming off a big loss to the Kangaroos the previous round. A win would not only get “Benny” Gale off the hook for his unpopular decision to pad the club coffers, it would also solidify the Tigers’ position in the Top Eight. For the Gold Coast, a win would give them a realistic chance of challenging for their first Finals appearance in just their third season in the AFL competition. Gold Coast received a boost in the lead up to the game with the magnificent Gary Ablett Jr. being declared fit after missing a week with a calf injury. Richmond was also boosted by the return of number one ruckman Ivan Maric who had missed time due to a nagging groin complaint.

 Jamie Kloeden reporting for AFANA

With their season well and truly on the line, the Adelaide Crows traveled north to tackle the Gold Coast Suns knowing that a loss would pretty much rule them out of Finals contention. On the flip side, the young Suns have shown great signs this year and are certainly no easy beats with five wins already on the season.

Early action saw the home side jump out of the blocks and register the first three scoring shots of the game including the first goal through superstar captain Gary Ablett. Brodie Smith, known his his long kicks out of defense, managed to use his right foot as an offensive weapon as he kicked a long goal to get the first for the Crows. It was a long 14 minutes before the next goal but it was worth the wait. Ablett once again was the man of the moment as he stole the ball out of a pack, ran away from goals then circled around and kicked truly from outside 50 meters. He was starting to show exactly why he is once again the favorite for this year's Brownlow Medal and still widely regarded as the best player in the League. Gold Coast added one more goal before quarter time through a great snap from Daniel Gorringe as they once again looked like a team very much at home at AFL level.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Joel Corey (GEEL) will qualify for AFL Life Membership in Round 15 with his 300th game. He has played 265 season games, one State of Origin match, 31 preseason games and two International Rules Matches. Other Round milestones include:

200 games: Campbell Brown (GC) and Justin Koschitzke (StK)
150 games: Will Minson (WB)
100 games: Josh Hill (WCE), Liam Picken (WB), Shaun Grigg (RICH), Josh Kennedy (SYD) and Jake King (RICH)
50 games: Jamie Macmillan (NM), Allen Christensen (GEEL) and Danny Stanley (GC)

Jamie Kloeden reporting for AFANA from Australia

Carlton left Melbourne for Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast with everything to play for against the lowly Gold Coast Suns. After being Premiership favorites early in the season, things went wrong mid-season to the point where Brett Ratten was hanging on by a thread to his position as coach. A huge win against the Bombers last week made Finals a very realistic goal and a strong showing against the Suns would have the Blues riding a wave of momentum into the major round if things went according to plan.

Adelaide got off to a flying start in Round One against the Gold Coast and finished the day with a 69 point victory to capture their first points for the 2012 season. The young Suns were on the back foot right from the start with Crows’ forwards Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker both effective in the first quarter, setting up a seven goals eight behinds score line for a 31 point lead at the first break.

Adelaide traded its compensation selection for the loss of Nathan Bock to the Gold Coast and a third round selection (#50) for Richmond's Richard Tambling. Tambling debuted for Richmond in 2005 and played 108 games and kicked 61 goals.

Hawthorn's Campbell Brown has become the latest defection to the Gold Coast. Brown, 27, has signed a three year contract and will begin preseason training with the Suns in November. There was speculation in the media that Brown left Hawthorn as a result of being put up as a possible trade last season.

The match day report against Brisbane's Brent Staker for striking Geelong's Darren Milburn was assessed by the MRP. The panel ruled that Staker's initial contact during an attempted tackle was to Milburn's back and his hand was open at all times. They therefore ruled that it was not a striking motion and dismissed the charge.

Charges Laid:

Hayden Ballantyne (FREM), fined $1200 for a first offense of misconduct in pulling Collingwood Harry O'Brien's hair. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to $900.

Matthew Warnock (MELB), fined $1200 for a first offense of making negligent contact with an umpire. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900.