They've forged one of the NRL's fiercest rivalries in recent years but Melbourne and Manly were falling over themselves to praise each other ahead of Friday's top-of-the-table showdown.

Star players were cleared but questions were left unanswered as the Wallabies November tango in Paris turned from a drama into a mystery on Tuesday.

Essendon midfielder Heath Hocking will miss Sunday's must-win AFL game against Port Adelaide after the tribunal upheld his rough conduct charge.

The fate of the federal government's controversial refugee swap deal with Malaysia will be decided by the High Court next week.

A Melbourne man facing up to 12 years in jail after being caught in Bali with just over $30 worth of methamphetamine has told a court he used the drug three to four times a month to relieve stress

Two dogs have attacked an elderly Melbourne woman in her home just days after a child was fatally mauled in similar circumstances.

Federal Labor backbencher Craig Thomson will step down as chair of a powerful parliamentary committee as NSW police begin looking into the alleged misuse of a credit card issued to him when he was

SYDNEY (AAP) - An Australian soldier has been killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan, the eighth to die this year and the 29th in almost a decade of conflict.

SYDNEY (AAP) - An Australian soldier has been killed by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan, Australian Defence Force Chief General David Hurley has confirmed.

Essendon could well weigh up their swag of injuries when deciding whether to contest a one-match ban against midfielder Heath Hocking that would keep him out until the AFL finals.