Martin Blake
Martin Blake has been a senior writer for The Age since 1986 and has covered numerous AFL seasons, three cricket World Cups and various Australian cricket tours overseas, two Olympic Games, three Commonwealth Games, and a plethora of other major sports events including the British Open Championship and the US Masters. He covers all sports with an emphasis on Australian football and golf.
Bloodlines run deep: Bolton set for his 300th game
Martin Blake I GUESS Jude was always going to be tough. He had to be. Growing up with two sporty elder brothers, their grand finals and Test matches in the Ballarat backyard were brutal.
Football
Hawks haunted by grand Swan
Martin Blake Next Saturday, former Hawk Josh Kennedy presents arguably the biggest single threat to Hawthorn's quest for an 11th premiership.
No place to run, or hide
Martin Blake Ted Richards is the modern backman personified; adaptable, competitive and strong.
Hayes is St Kilda's best
Martin Blake Lenny Hayes has won his third Trevor Barker Award as St Kilda's best and fairest player.
Pies dump US recruit
Martin Blake As AFL continues push into US for players, poster boy for campaign out of a job.
McVeigh hangs up boots
Martin Blake For the best part of a decade, Mark ''Spike'' McVeigh and James Hird had a ritual as players. Before each game, they paired off and hammered footballs at each other to spark up.
Martin Blake
Can the Hawks end the hoodoo?
Martin Blake Five key questions to ponder when assessing whether Hawthorn can break Geelong's spell.
The Blair hitch project
Martin Blake A vertically challenged Magpie bucks the system to leave a sizeable footprint on the big stage.
AFL
Mercurial Dees crush Giants
Martin Blake Melbourne under Mark Neeld is multi-faceted and adaptable, above all else.
Mercurial Dees crush Giants
Martin Blake Melbourne under Mark Neeld is multi-faceted and adaptable, above all else.
Demons in remix after Clark loss
Martin Blake The numbers indicate that Mitch Clark's loss could be devastating for Melbourne.
Hawks put blowtorch on Ratten
Martin Blake Hawthorn defeats Carlton by 50 points without even breaking stride, piling on seven first-quarter goals to set it up.
Young Roo works his way to front
Martin Blake Leigh Adams will not need extra motivation as North Melbourne heads into a critical clash with St Kilda.
Clouds gather over Cats' form
Martin Blake Fans stayed away, which was some occurrence for the stoic lot who follow Geelong.
No 'Buddy' worries for Hawthorn
Martin Blake Hawthorn, minus Lance Franklin and Luke Hodge, hammers the Bulldogs.
Ben there, done that
Martin Blake Ben McEvoy has played in a grand final and lost. He'll use it to help St Kilda into a new era.
Fiery Goddard embraces calmer side
Martin Blake When Brendon Goddard was suspended recently, he had a heart-to-heart chat with his coach.
New Dog, new tricks
Martin Blake Western Bulldogs will have a new look when they begin their 2012 campaign at Blacktown.
Football
Big job for small Pie
Martin Blake and Jesse Hogan Kirk Ugle is this year's Anzac Day project player. In the spirit of the clubs giving a young player his debut on the biggest of home-and-away stages, Ugle, 19, was the surprise inclusion in...
