Cat remains in an induced coma, a Kangaroo admits to battling a mental disorder, the Crows in dire straits and the fallout from the match review panel are among the AFL-related items making news in Australia's daily newspapers on Tuesday, 29 August 2006.

Herald Sun: Losing a kidney may not mean the end of Tom Lonergan's promising playing career.

A leading kidney expert says AFL is the most dangerous football code for players to suffer renal injuries.

Collingwood's finals hopes soared on Monday night when star forward Alan Didak was cleared of a rough conduct charge from Sunday's fiery clash with Carlton.

The Western Bulldogs have complained to the AFL about the off-the-ball manhandling of Scott West on Friday night.

Jonathan Hay revealed on Monday he had been fighting the bipolar disorder for three years.

Adelaide's premiership campaign is on life support.

Melbourne defender Matthew Whelan is expected to recover in time for the Demons' finals campaign despite injuring his hamstring against Geelong on Saturday.

It's almost nine months since veteran coach and occasional meteorologist Denis Pagan forecast blue skies at Blueland.

Aaron Hamill appears a certain starter for St Kilda on Saturday night after showing rapid improvement in the past 48 hours.

Sydney co-captain Leo Barry says players are left with no choice but to put their safety at risk, such is the courage demanded by today's game.

Rohan Smith is likely to reach 300 games, even if he has to wait until next year for the honour.

The Australian: Adelaide's ailing premiership challenge now looks terminal, with the news that star defender Andrew McLeod has had further surgery on his foot and is unlikely to play again this year.

Collingwood forward Alan Didak on Monday escaped being cited by the match review panel for a hit on Heath Scotland that sent the Carlton player bloodied and groggy from the MCG last Sunday.

Fremantle star Matthew Pavlich on Monday became the first Docker to acknowledge what the rest of the AFL knows: the premiership is within grasp.

If the Kangaroos knew what they now know, perhaps they would not have traded for Jonathan Hay. If Hay knew what he now knows, perhaps he would never have tried to keep it from his club, coaches and team-mates.

Adelaide Advertiser: Adelaide's Trent Hentschel should make a full recovery from a knee reconstruction and he'll grace AAMI Stadium for years to come, sports injury guru Rick Montiadis predicts.

Accountability was the buzz word around the Adelaide Football Club in the six-day lead-up to Showdown XXI at the weekend.

Crows club champion favourite Simon Goodwin said his team's goal has not changed - and that's to win the premiership.

Not even the cold wind - appropriately blowing from West Lakes - could wipe the smile off the Port Adelaide players as they had their "recovery walk" at Alberton Oval on Monday morning.

Port Adelaide veteran Adam Kingsley has the coaching bug. And next month, when Power coach Mark Williams calls the 31-year-old to his office, he might be asking Kingsley what he can offer to Port's rebuilding program as a specialist coach rather than as a player.

The Age: The future of the bump is again being questioned following Monday's contentious match review panel decision to clear Collingwood's star forward Alan Didak.

Alan Didak is one of the game's most artful dodgers, and Monday's escape was perhaps his greatest feat of evasion.

Tom Lonergan may be brought out of an induced coma on Tuesday to hear that while it would mean taking a massive risk, he could play football again.

Adelaide comes to grips with the news that key defender Andrew McLeod will not play in the finals, and Trent Hentschel and Ben Hart may never play again.

Kangaroos defender and former All-Australian Jonathan Hay revealed that he has grappled with bipolar depression for more than three years.

Richmond is poised to part company with up to four of its most senior players, with two veterans expected to retire on Tuesday and at least one and possibly two more having been told their time at Punt Road is up.

Barry Hall trained without discomfort on Monday to indicate he has already recovered from a back injury and he will not be rested next weekend.

Sydney Morning Herald: Kangaroos star Jonathan Hay has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has been given indefinite leave by his club to allow him to seek treatment.

Courier Mail: Brisbane is organising a farewell for Brad Scott at the Gabba on Saturday night but there are no plans to include skipper Michael Voss or departing star Jason Akermanis in the celebrations.

This time last season the Lions were planning to build team morale during the pre-season after a demoralising end to the year.