Ryan Griffen

Boris Kilpatrick, special to AFANA from Australia

After a weekend of big wins, more injuries and the previously sole remaining undefeated team going down, there have been some big movers on the AFANA AFL Power Poll this week. Port Adelaide once again failed to handle Essendon on the fast deck at Etihad stadium, taking their first loss of the season in the process. Big wins to Richmond

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

With the national draft just a few weeks away, several clubs have made further changes to their lists. At the end of October, each club was required to submit "first list lodgement" documentation with the AFL.

CARLTON
The Blues have delisted Mitch Robinson, Brock McLean and Kane Lucas. This makes a total of 12 players the club has cut since the end of the 2014 season. Robinson played 100 games with Carlton since being drafted in 2008. Robinson has joined Brisbane as a delisted free agent. Lucas was drafted in 2010 and played 42 games. Although he won the club's Best First Year Player award, he was unable to cement a spot in the team. McLean played 94 games with Melbourne 2004-09 before joining Carlton where he played a further 63 games.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

In the middle of the trade period, Western Bulldog coach Brendan McCartney tendered his resignation. Although club president Peter Gordon denied there was a rift between coach and players, he did cite communication issues as the reason. He said that the club had "lost their direction in 2014" with some deterioration in the second half of the season after progress during McCartney's first two seasons in charge. He denied that the club had been close to sacking McCartney in September but did admit his position was under review after a tepid finish to the season. Gordon also said that Bulldogs' Captain Ryan Griffen's shock trade request played a part in the coach's departure.

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

The two week trade period saw a lot of action and concluded on October 17. A number of players requested trades to other clubs while others were moved on reluctantly. Clubs also traded draft selections to strengthen their prospects in picking up needed players.

Rick Browner reporting for AFANA from Patersons Stadium

If the Fremantle Dockers had any aspirations of playing Finals football then a win against the Western Bulldogs at home was a must. The Bulldogs remained a mathematical chance to play in the Finals but this Round 15 game was a must-win game in that campaign. Both sides have been well out of form and languishing well down the ladder, but the Dockers went into the round with a one game lead over their rivals with a huge home crowd in attendance to urge them on.

Several weeks ago, the MCG hosted its 2500th football game. At the start of the season, AFL historian Col Hutchinson and his team did some extensive research to estimate the MCG would celebrate another milestone in 2012 as the ground would see its 100 millionth footy fan walk through the turnstiles. At the time, it was determined that the milestone would be reached in the Round Nine game between Richmond and Hawthorn.

Always a threat when they travel to Perth, the Western Bulldogs suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the West Coast Eagles in front of 37,000 fanatical fans. Prior to this match, the Eagles’ form had been good with four wins while the 2010 Preliminary Finalists had a return to winning form against Richmond last week after a very patchy start to the season. 

Since 2005 the Western Bulldogs have had the wood on Fremantle. The last time they played, Barry Hall sunk the Dockers almost single-handedly, booting a bagful of goals to help the Bulldogs run out 82 point winners. Big Barry was back in Perth again and no matter where they are on the Ladder, the Bulldogs always give a good account of themselves at the large Patersons Stadium.