Glenn Manton labels Kevin Sheedy and Denis Pagan 'fossils', Mick Malthouse takes a swipe at the rookie list rules, while skippers Mark Ricciuto and David Neitz are set to return from injury - these are among the AFL-related items making news in Australia's daily newspapers on Thursday, 11 May 2006.

Herald Sun: Carlton premiership player Glenn Manton has labelled two of his former coaches, Kevin Sheedy and Denis Pagan, as football fossils who should retire gracefully.

Denis Pagan is nothing if not true to a belief in his own methods. If someone wants to brand him as a football fossil, then so be it.

Disgruntled Carlton fans are baying for coach Denis Pagan's blood and want him either to resign or be sacked immediately.

Five days on, all that is left from the Daniel Giansiracusa/Justin Koschitzke train crash is a cracked melon . . . and a couple of questions.

Expect to see Justin Koschitzke wearing a helmet when he returns to football after fracturing his skull last Saturday against the Western Bulldogs.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse yesterday accused the AFL of imposing "silly" rules that restrict the development of rookie-listed players.

Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade has questioned several umpiring decisions made after the clash between Justin Koschitzke and Daniel Giansiracusa last Saturday.

Shane Crawford will sign and present a pair of pink boots to the highest bidder to raise money for Breast Cancer Network Australia.

It was always going to hurt but Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy says the loss of full-forward Matthew Lloyd is cutting deep.

Melbourne will welcome back three big names including captain David Neitz for Saturday's clash against Fremantle at the MCG.

Timekeepers at Launceston's Aurora Stadium will watch future games from a new vantage point.

Faith, fitness and firepower are the weapons Collingwood will use to confront West Coast at Subiaco on Saturday night.

The Age: Last year Neale Daniher did not expect a shoot-out when Melbourne met Fremantle at the MCG.

Kevin Sheedy says his side's start has been competitive and the team of 2006 is superior to that of last year.

Hawthorn may have to embrace the unthinkable possibility of teenage full-back Zac Dawson playing on Jonathan Brown after another untimely injury.

Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley appears increasingly unlikely to make the trip to play West Coast at Subiaco this week.

Neale Daniher concedes Melbourne cannot afford a repeat of last year's MCG shoot-out against Fremantle in this week's game, which will raise awareness of breast cancer.

Collingwood rookie Harry O'Brien's good form prompts his coach to question why rookie-listed players can only be used to cover the loss of senior players.

Paul Williams this weekend chalks up 300 AFL games, bringing back memories of his trade to Sydney.

Shane Crawford is setting the standard for players approaching the twilight of their career.

Coach Rodney Eade says clashes such as the one between Daniel Giansiracusa and St Kilda's Justin Koschitzke last weekend will always be part of Australian football.

The Advertiser: Mark Ricciuto has declared himself ready to resume from injury and in the best physical condition he has been since Christmas.

AFL chief operating officer Ben Buckley wants a significant increase in radio rights - but he will also learn SA's AFL broadcasters want a significant improvement in the AFL fixture.

Matthew Bode is an unlikely starter against the Kangaroos at Telstra Dome on Sunday.

Stuart Dew will again star in his own version of the Lazarus Project as he seeks to overcome a calf injury for the second consecutive week.

Road-runner Kane Cornes would rather put the "hate" back in Port Adelaide home games than rejoice in his 100-game milestone.

Port's 22-and-unders who have played this year, showing their age, on-field position and total games.

Having earned the tag of Australia's brainiest footballer, Adam Kingsley is ready to return for the Power after missing more than two months with a dislocated shoulder.

The Australian: Another bench-clearing brawl is looming between the AFL and the coaches as the league considers limiting the use of interchange to arrest the tearaway speed of the game.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has refused to say whether captain Nathan Buckley will play for the top-placed Magpies in their toughest test of the season against last year's grand finalist West Coast in Perth.

Fremantle coach Chris Connolly said yesterday Jeff Farmer deserved to be acknowledged as one of the AFL's greatest players.

The Courier Mail: As the Lions hierarchy yesterday backed Leigh Matthews in his stoush with Jason Akermanis, a group of influential Swans revealed they wanted him at their club.

Bryce Gibbs is just 17, stands 188cm tall and is 75kg dripping wet, but he's the player the Lions believe can spark the club back to its former glory.

Hawthorn forward Mark Williams's rise to prominence among the AFL's leading goal threats has even caught teammate Joel Smith, a dual All-Australian defender, by surprise.

Mark Ricciuto has declared himself ready to resume from injury and in the best physical condition he's been since Christmas.

Collingwood might be on top of the AFL ladder but coach Mick Malthouse isn't happy.

The Daily Telegraph: Swans coach Paul Roos admitted one Sydney player was going to feel pretty stiff when the team to play Richmond is announced after tonight's training.

A group of former Sydney greats believe the Swans should go after Jason Akermanis if Brisbane decide to put their controversial superstar on the market at the end of the season.

Geelong Advertiser: Travis Varcoe was always destined for the AFL.

Telstra Dome seems to have spoilt football players to the max. After watching a series of wet games it's clear and apparent that wet weather football skills are almost a forgotten art.

The West Australian: Ashley Sampi's spot in West Coast's team to play Collingwood at Subiaco Oval on Saturday was on a knife-edge last night as the Eagles weighed the out-of-sorts forward's form against WAFL trio Mark LeCras, Matt Priddis and Steven Armstrong.