Blake Caracella wants to play again this year, Lance Franklin has removed himself from Essendon's wish list and the Kangaroos will become the AFL's weapon in the Gold Coast battle against the National Rugby League next season – they’re among some of the football items in Australia’s metropolitan dailies, today – Friday 14 July, 2006.

Herald Sun: Blake Caracella wants to play again this year after taking a major step forward in his rehabilitation.

Lance Franklin has removed himself from Essendon's wish list just two days after Kevin Sheedy signalled his interest.

The Kangaroos will become the AFL's weapon in the Gold Coast battle against the National Rugby League next season.

Welcome to the Bowdens' back yard. Joel and Patrick Bowden have taken brotherly love to new heights this season, sharing the ball between themselves like no other pair in the AFL.

Melbourne vice-captain Brad Miller is set for more time on the sidelines, this time with a hip injury.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse yesterday took the Magpies out of their comfort zone for a taste of old-fashioned suburban footy training.

Adelaide wants to pump crowd noise and abuse into the heads of its forwards as they line up for shots at training, but now also needs to shut eavesdroppers out.

The Australian: Melbourne may have broken its somewhat bizarre cycle as the yo-yo of the AFL but its re-established centre half-back Jared Rivers is now mirroring the trait.

The man who got Barry Hall off a striking charge to play in last year's grand final believes the controversial tribunal system is better than the one it replaced and will improve with time.

Fremantle coach Chris Connolly has put erratic forward Jeff Farmer on notice for Sunday's crucial match with Collingwood at the MCG.

Four premiership points and four quarters for Richmond tonight, and Nathan Brown will have finally come full circle.

Adelaide Advertiser: His captain has likened him to Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd and now Shaun Burgoyne is ready to deal with his new-found superstar status.

The AFL Players' Association will tomorrow meet the AFL to discuss an amended pay-rise proposal.

The Age: Sydney coach Paul Roos says an outburst from dumped forward Nick Davis could hinder his immediate chances of reinstatement to the senior team.

West Coast will offer its captain Chris Judd the chance to become a million-dollar player with a mega-pay deal to take effect from next season.

Richmond players say they want to spend more time with Terry Wallace on the training track and have requested better off-field facilities.

Essendon's nightmare season continues at the selection table, with the Bombers reduced to the bare bones of their senior list.

The West Australian: Lance Franklin of the Hawks marks in front of Danny Meyer of the TigersRyan Pierse/Getty ImagesHawthorn forward

Sydney Morning Herald:
The AFL reporting and tribunal system that was made to look merely ridiculous when Swans star Barry Hall was cleared to play in last year's grand final after punching an opponent in the stomach 40 metres off the ball has descended into pure farce.

Courier Mail: The AFL has greeted the Kangaroos' decision to play three home games a season on the Gold Coast as a "small step" in its plan to stage games in Queensland every weekend of the home and away season.
Another training track injury has ruled courageous Lion Ben Fixter out of tomorrow night's must-win clash with the Kangaroos at Telstra Stadium.
Geelong Advertiser: Geelong has resisted the temptation to rush some of its big names in the VFL back into its senior side for the Cats' mini elimination final against Port Adelaide on Sunday.

Daily Telegraph: Nick Davis need look no further than Jason Akermanis and his fallout with the Lions hierarchy to see the potential damage of publicly airing your disappointment with coaching decisions.