Herald Sun: Stunned Hawthorn cancelled training today as it reeled from heavy hits at the AFL Tribunal last night. The Hawks lost four players for a total of 15 matches in a shattering aftermath to Saturday's wild brawl with Essendon just after halftime at the MCG.
Admitting guilt to one charge midway through the hearing didn't soften the fall for Hawthorn onballer Richard Vandenberg at the AFL Tribunal last night. The Hawks were stunned when Vandenberg was suspended for six matches on separate striking and kneeing charges and teammate Lance Picioane received four matches for striking in the same incident.
Hawthorn has just 27 senior players available for selection this week after the AFL handed out 16 weeks of suspension and a record $70,700 in fines for the wild brawl with Essendon.
A large percentage of the cash from last night's melee fines will be distributed to charities.
Collingwood was handed some overdue good news yesterday when captain Nathan Buckley was declared on target to lead the side against Melbourne at the MCG on Monday.
Brisbane Lions super-sub Tim Notting credited an off-season of hard work and soul-searching for his form resurgence in 2004.
Adelaide Advertiser: Keep fighting! That was the powerful message from Adelaide coach Gary Ayres, who yesterday put his struggling team through one of its sharpest training sessions of the year.
Port Adelaide full back Darryl Wakelin feels he has let his team-mates down with inconsistency but now has the "conditioning" to repay their faith.
The Age: Carlton captain Anthony Koutoufides is expected to line up against Hawthorn tomorrow night after completing a solid week on the training track.
Hawthorn officials left the AFL Tribunal last night obviously angry but making no comment after eight Hawthorn and eight Essendon players were fined a record amount of $69,500 over last Saturday's melee.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has defended Hawthorn football director Dermott Brereton, saying the former great deserved "the benefit of the doubt" regarding his role in last weekend's wild melee at the MCG.
Grant Thomas will not tell his star centre half-forward Nick Riewoldt to stop hurling himself into packs against the flight of the ball, instead encouraging the rest of his team to learn from the fearless youngster.
The Australian: The adulation and expectation which greeted a teenage Lance Whitnall has turned to derision and hostility as he prepares for his 150th match tomorrow night against Hawthorn at Telstra Dome.
Geelong Advertiser: Geelong may have to tackle bogey side Kangaroos without skipper Steven King, who is in doubt with hamstring soreness.
The West: Ashley Sampi is on the verge of being dropped from West Coast's team to play Adelaide at the weekend - just four matches after he took one of the greatest marks in football history.
