Retirement plans for Fraser Gehrig and trade talks heating up are among the AFL-related items making news in Australia's daily newspapers on Thursday, September 15, 2005.Herald Sun: St Kilda full-forward Fraser Gehrig will play his last AFL game in the preliminary final tomorrow night, or the Grand Final on Saturday week.Wayne Carey is believed to have signed with Collingwood in a part-time coaching role.The AFL has scuttled the Western Bulldogs' plans for a double-header in Darwin next year, stripping the club of the chance to add another $450,000 to its coffers.Melbourne and the Kangaroos, both searching for an experienced key defender, have declared their interest in Hawthorn's Jon Hay.A cautious Grant Thomas was told on Wednesday that all suspect St Kilda players would be at his disposal for Friday night's preliminary final.The Australian: Don't judge me on goals, judge me on grunt. That was the message from a defiant Barry Hall as he defended his finals form.St Kilda has undergone a dramatic transformation from "Butter Boys" to AFL hardmen, with the most telling statistic revealing the late-season Saints as the toughest team in the competition.Hawthorn full-back Jonathan Hay could return home to Western Australia and join Fremantle next month if a deal can be arranged to satisfy the Hawks.West Coast assistant coach Peter Sumich believes the ruck duel between veteran Adelaide big man Matthew Clarke and Eagles star Dean Cox will be the defining match-up of Saturday's preliminary final.Adelaide Advertiser: Adelaide has declared injured on-ballers Robert Shirley and Tyson Edwards certain starters for Saturday's preliminary final against West Coast.Attacking oracle Ken McGregor believes Neil Craig is the new "Messiah" - having nourished a desolate team psychology with faith-based conviction.The Age: When it comes to tagging, St Kilda's Baker boy is guaranteed to annoy.St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says all the Saints battling to be fit for tomorrow's preliminary final against Sydney pulled up well after light training on Tuesday.Bristle replaces the bustle as Barry Hall faces the media.Time-worn suburban football grounds that once hosted VFL games will be upgraded under a partnership between the State Government and the AFL.At Glenferrie Oval, the question is not who the Hawks are willing to trade, but who of their senior citizens they are not willing to offload.The West: Defiant Adelaide champion Mark Ricciuto says he won't be distracted by the sound of 43,000 Eagles supporters baying for his blood on Saturday in retaliation for his hit on Adam Selwood three weeks ago.Sydney Morning Herald: Barry Hall has not been the usual prominent feature of Sydney's two finals games this season and, as a result, his performances have attracted scrutiny and criticism in the press.Daily Telegraph: Shifting Barry Hall closer to goal, forcing St Kilda into a dogfight and kicking at least 14 goals is the Swans best plan of attack in tomorrow night's preliminary final.