Brett Burton

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

The AFL Laws Committee will have a new look in 2014 with the retirements of Kevin Bartlett, Jeff Gieschen, Peter Schwab and Rowan Sawers. They will be replaced by former Tiger and newly appointed Umpire Director Wayne Campbell, retired umpire and current umpire coach Hayden Kennedy, former West Coast player John Worsfold and former Collingwood player Michael Christian. Bartlett had served on the panel for 20 years from 1994-2013.

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.

Time AEST/US EDT  Event             
11:40 AM / 9:40 PM Gillette AFL Grand Final Sprint heats
12:10 AM / 10:10 PM AIS Academy Squad / TAC Cup presentation and photo
12:55 PM / 10:55 PM Delivery of match footballs to Umpires
1.00 PM / 11:00 PM On-field pre-match set up
1.10 PM – 1.25 PM / 11:10 PM – 11:25 PM Preliminary on-field warm-up opportunity for competing clubs
1:25 PM / 11:25 PM Stage and sound set in centre square
1:30 PM -- 2:00 PM / 11:30 PM --12:00 MN Pre-match entertainment featuring INXS.  Welcome to country by Wurundjeri elder Joy Murphy Wandin.
1:30 PM / 11:30 PM International TV feed begins including coverage on ESPN Classic, TSN2, and ESPN3.com.  The host broadcaster is Channel 7 and the announcers will be lead by Bruce McAvaney and Dennis Cometti.

Docker Des Headland has retired, citing chronic knee problems as the reason. Headland played in the Semi-Final loss against Geelong last week, his first game since Round Four when he injured his right knee.

FREMANTLE
Michael Barlow, broken leg, season
Greg Broughton, hamstring, 1 week
Antoni Grover, hamstring, 1-2 weeks
Chris Mayne, ankle, 1 week

Just ahead of Round 13, Adelaide's Brett Burton announced he would retire at the end of the season. He is the third Crow veteran to do so. Tyson Edwards retired after Round 11 while Simon Goodwin also said 2010 would be his last season. Burton, 32, debuted in 1999.