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About Martin Blake
About Martin Blake
Martin Blake is a vastly experienced sports journalist with The Age, who has covered every VFL/AFL season since 1986. A former sports editor and chief cricket writer for the newspaper, Blake is currently golf writer and a senior sports writer. In more than 20 years in The Age sports department, Blake has covered two Olympics and various Commonwealth Games.
Wings clipped but Swans find enough ticker to fly
FOUR points went on offer yesterday, and while Sydney claimed the prize ahead of Carlton, it amounted to a win-win situation for both teams.
Legend no.3: The King
As a pure footballer, the "great creator of players" never produced a more perfect machine. Mere mortals are inclined to tighten under the heat; Carey rose to it.
North declares cluster busted
Through hard running and quick ball movement, the Kangaroos broke up the much-vaunted Hawk defence.
Aka kicks on, saying expectations are high
The Bulldogs are well advanced in their mission to earn respect and in-form Jason Akermanis says they can beat any side.
Bradshaw: better, stronger, faster
Daniel Bradshaw's comeback from a knee reconstruction has stunned
his club, writes
Lyon knows the deal: successful coaches prevail
St Kilda's experiment with the Sydney style of football could be costly.
Dream on Dons, growing Richmond is well ahead
The strains of the beautifully simple, profoundly evocative Paul Kelly song From Little Things, Big Things Grow rang out around the MCG before last night's match.
One too many changes for game's character
The G-Train seems to have run out of steam, with injuries taking their toll.
'The body's given up before the mind and spirit did'
David Neitz deserves to be numbered among the great players of Melbourne.
Lyon's Saints are the dispossessed
Two significant matters emerged from St Kilda's win by less than a kick over Richmond; one technical, and one far more earthy.
Let's make it fair dinkum
It was hard to get passionate about the Dream Team. In the future, we need Victoria versus South Australia.
Sydney's positive pressure
The great myth about the way Sydney plays is that the Swans merely flood back.
Stars align, but keepings-off didn't stir
The game never reached the heights of the hype and there was little physical contact.
Memories of Hall and Carman taint state footy
Incidents such as the all-Hawk calamity of 1989 were rare and have taintes state football.
The mark of a legend
Jezza's mark is a symbol for everything that is good about Australian football: the power and grace and athleticism.
Burgoyne brothers relish All-star game
Two Port siblings are relishing the chance to take on the Big V, writes .
Yes to state football
Ask Robert Harvey or Gavin Brown or Paul Roos if they wanted to play.
Goodes provides a touch of class to dour stalemate
Firrito's fingertips square things away after Swans rally late behind star.
It's summer, and footy's back
When the crowd emits one of those primal screams, and everyone knows the footy is back.
Krakouer's career in doubt after delisting
Andrew Krakouer's AFL career may be over at just 24, after Richmond cut him yesterday.
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