Timekeepers from the Sydney-Collingwood clash are stood down over timing error, Gary Ablett Jr breaks his silence on his reclusive father, Fremantle players involved in a wild drinking session, and Melbourne to regain skipper David Neitz this week are among the AFL-related items making news in Australia's daily newspapers on Tuesday, 28 June 2005.

Herald Sun: Gary Ablett Jr has broken his silence and has revealed he will stick by his reclusive father.

Steven King is a monster of a man at 202cm and 102kg. Yet, in 943 minutes of footy this season he has not taken a contested mark.

The AFL on Monday determined 14 seconds of last Saturday's Sydney-Collingwood match were lost, and stood down the timekeepers who made the error.

Struggling Hawthorn has been dealt a serious injury blow with playmaker Chance Bateman requiring season-ending shoulder surgery.

AFL clubs have given a resounding thumbs up to the new tribunal system, declaring it better than the old judiciary.

Respective full-forwards Barry Hall and Chris Tarrant are in the clear following separate incidents in Sydney on Saturday night.

Fremantle's rocky season has taken another turn for the worse, with a number of players involved in a wild drinking session during the AFL club's mid-season break.

The Age: Every club in the AFL will be forced to recruit a Sydney teenager next year under a radical proposal aimed at boosting football's flagging fortunes in Australia's biggest city.

Ten goals straight at the weekend is no guarantee to deliver Kangaroos full-forward Sav Rocca a return to the senior team.

Essendon defender Ty Zantuck could face an extended spell in the VFL as a consequence of the type of disciplinary slip-up that led to the end of his career at Richmond.
Surgery to remove calcified tissue from around the patella tendon in Matthew Allan's left knee on Tuesday has solved Essendon's problem about keeping Andrew Lovett on the playing list.
The Australian: It is the news other clubs have been dreading -- the Brisbane Lions, winner of three of the past four flags, are back.

Melbourne appears certain to regain captain David Neitz for Saturday night's match against Brisbane at the Gabba.

Adelaide Advertiser: Adelaide's players will spend the next nine weeks fighting on the field to secure the best starting position in their tilt for the AFL premiership. But the bigger scrap for the Crows will be off the field with the AFL.

Adelaide will be unchanged for a record sixth time in an AFL season on Sunday afternoon when it plays Fremantle at AAMI Stadium. This stability will afford Crows coach Neil Craig the luxury of holding back first-choice utility Graham Johncock's return from a broken leg for another week.

Shaun Burgoyne has rejected claims he is Port Adelaide's new $1 million man.

Port Adelaide will field its strongest team of the year against Collingwood at Telstra Dome on Friday night.

The West Australian: Two of football's biggest bookmakers face a payout of more than $1.1 million if white-hot premiership favourites West Coast triumph on grand final day.

Sydney Morning Herald: Every club in the AFL will be forced to recruit a Sydney teenager next year under a radical proposal aimed at boosting the flagging fortunes of Australian Rules in Sydney.

Courier Mail: Melbourne will have all its big guns available for Saturday night's assault on Brisbane at the Gabba after skipper David Neitz was given the all-clear on Monday to resume playing.