Chris Grant's game-breaking milestone, Sav Rocca's punting bid and good news for Andrew Raines at the tribunal are among the AFL-related items making news in Australia’s metropolitan dailies, today Wednesday 2 August, 2006.

Herald Sun: Carlton coach Denis Pagan are the club's board are headed for conflict.

Former umpire Anton Lewis has revealed Western Bulldogs' games record-breaker Chris Grant was denied the 1996 Brownlow Medal in an agonisingly close call.

Sav Rocca took another punt before training yesterday when he put together a US-bound video for talent scouts to look at him kicking a gridiron football.

A relieved Richmond celebrated a two-nil victory after luckless St Kilda ran into double trouble in contrasting fortunes at the AFL tribunal last night.

Mike Sheahan: Will someone in authority please inform the rest of us as to what is legal contact these days?

Richmond coach Terry Wallace has called on the AFL to clearly define the options for players in a contest for the ball.

Kangaroos hard man Glenn Archer is making a bold bid to play against Port Adelaide on Sunday.

Collingwood has moved quickly to shield young midfielder Ben Davies from the glare of public examination after his courage was put under the microscope during Friday night's game against Hawthorn.

Pay rises for umpires is next on the AFL's agenda after the league and the AFL Players' Association agreed last week to a players' pay deal.

During each of the past three seasons, Chris Grant has thought his AFL career was probably closing.

The Gold Coast Titans have called on the AFL to strike a scheduling compromise at Carrara Stadium in 2007 to end the turf war between the codes.

Teenager Andrew Swallow has been rewarded for his key role in the Kangaroos' upset win against Geelong by claiming the Round 17 nomination for the AFL Rising Star Award.

The Advertiser: Andrew McLeod will get a multi-year contract extension. But the game-breaking Adelaide defender is unlikely to sign his new two-season deal before his 30th birthday on Friday.

Most AFL clubs advertise to sell tickets to their matches. Adelaide is appealing to its fans in television commercials for their ticket-holding supporters to give them away.

During each of the past three seasons, Chris Grant has thought his AFL career was probably closing - but any 2006 thoughts of retirement have been steadfastly put on hold until after the Western Bulldogs' last game.

It's easy to forget Bryce Gibbs is still learning. At 17, the Glenelg tyro already looks as if he knows it all on the football field - but the level-headed teenager realises he has as much to learn with the Tigers as at Brighton Secondary College.

There has always been status attached to being the AFL's No. 1 national draft pick - and now there will be extra cash as well.

Richmond ruckman Greg Stafford expressed relief last night that the AFL remained a collision sport after his successful visit to the tribunal.

Sav Rocca took another punt before training yesterday when he put together a U.S.-bound video for talent scouts to look at him kicking a gridiron football.

The Age: Footscray was at death's door when a skinny Chris Grant arrived in 1989. In 2006, his body's resilience is still questioned, but he is about to break the Western Bulldogs games record.

The AFL is set to equalise the competition further by "topping up" the returns of clubs that do not have favourable stadium deals.

Jason Akermanis played what was almost certainly his last game for the Brisbane Lions almost three weeks ago - against the Kangaroos at Telstra Dome

Two was the number for Richmond and St Kilda at the AFL Tribunal last night. It was a lucky number for Richmond, with both Tigers who appeared free to play this week. Andrew Raines had a tripping charge involving St Kilda's Aaron Fiora downgraded and Greg Stafford was cleared of rough play against Brendon Goddard.

Giant global sports network ESPN remains an active player in the drawn-out tussle for AFL pay-TV broadcast rights, a senior executive has confirmed.

Richmond full-back Darren Gaspar is unlikely to play again this year, further compounding the sliding Tigers' dreadful injury problems.

Interstate clubs were at a disadvantage by not being permitted to train on the Telstra Dome before games, Fremantle chief executive Cameron Schwab said yesterday.

They might be the premiers, but the Swans don't figure in the calculations of most when it comes to September 2006. And that suits them perfectly.

Robert Harvey says that an AFL premiership would be the only factor that would allow him a quick, clean divorce from a long, illustrious playing career.

Midfielder Andrew Swallow, the round 17 Rising Star nominee, produced an impressive display in the Kangaroos' victory over Geelong in Canberra last Sunday.

National Rugby League club the Gold Coast Titans has called on the AFL to strike a scheduling compromise at Carrara Stadium in 2007 to end the turf war between the codes.

Brisbane Lions defender Mal Michael's season — and AFL future — was in doubt yesterday as he had tests on a calf injury from last Saturday night's loss to Essendon at Telstra Dome.

The Australian: The AFL will today announce to the 16 clubs that base player payments will increase by more than $93million over the next five years.

In an age of selfishness, when loyalty to a club is only as long as the length of a contract, Australian football has had Chris Grant.

Richmond ruckman Greg Stafford expressed relief last night that football remained a collision sport after his successful visit to the tribunal.

West Coast ruckman Dean Cox is on the road to a shock comeback in the club's crucial match against St Kilda on Friday night.

One of the things Neil Craig learned from his work with the Australian cycling team is that, once you have reached an Olympic Games or major championships, you don't try to reinvent the wheel. For all his ingenuity in training science and number crunching, Craig is no match day alchemist.

Adelaide forward Ken McGregor denied the ladder-leading Crows were tactically vulnerable after being badly exposed by the West Coast on Saturday.

The rapid improvement of Fremantle full-forward Ryan Murphy should not surprise given his club mentor is champion team-mate Matthew Pavlich.

The undermanned and undersized Western Bulldogs may have finally received some good news as their opponent on Saturday, Richmond, may lose two of its talls to suspension.

Lions coach Leigh Matthews admits it will be a challenge to motivate his squad for the last five games of the season.

The Courier Mail: Brisbane Lions ball magnet Simon Black believes Jonathan Brown will not return for Sunday's Gabba match against Geelong.

During each of the past three seasons, Chris Grant has thought his AFL career was probably closing, but any thoughts of retirement in 2006 have been steadfastly put on hold until after the Western Bulldogs' last game.

Jason Akermanis: It's been another interesting week in the Akermanis household. I found out there is a team in Brisbane that wants me, and that's the ALP. I've spoken to the Labor Party and found what they had to say to be quite thought-provoking.

Daily Telegraph: Could history repeat? Is destiny again tapping on the Swans' shoulders? Peer into the crystal ball and it is not implausible that Sydney will finish third.

Geelong Advertiser: Cameron Ling has been cleared of injury after the clash that left him concussed during Sunday's loss to the Kangaroos in Canberra.

Tim McGrath: According to Bomber Thompson, a disappointing Geelong had a bad attitude against the Kangaroos. Well, it's time to get rid of some players.

Sydney Morning Herald: They might be the premiers, but the Swans aren't in most people's calculations when it comes to winning in 2006 - and that suits them just fine.