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.
AFL
AFL moves to allay fears weather will stop grand final parade
Martin Blake and Daniel Mackney Tomorrow's grand final parade will be cancelled if Melbourne's forecast bad weather is too inclement, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has admitted.
AFL moving on grand final twilight game
Martin Blake The AFL continues to warm to the idea of a twilight grand final.
AFL
Cats, Magpies recall big guns for grand final replay
Jesse Hogan and Martin Blake Teams for grand final rematch will bear strong resemblance to last year's decider.
Martin Blake
Preliminary discussions: Part three
Martin Blake Travis Cloke is the one. He has a history of troubling Sydney and is key to the Pie's chances.
Schoe and tell: Hawks' most relieved man
Martin Blake Arguably the most relieved man at Hawthorn today was Ryan Schoenmakers, the Hawks' centre half-back whose brain-fade late in the final quarter gifted a goal to Adelaide's Jason Porplyzia and almost...
Football
Hawk puts brain fade behind him
Martin Blake Arguably the most relieved man at Hawthorn yesterday was Ryan Schoenmakers, whose brain fade late in the final quarter almost cost his team a spot in the grand final.
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.
Hawk Smith is an up-and-comer
Martin Blake Isaac Smith is determined to go with the flow in his first experience of grand final week.
No place to run, or hide
Martin Blake Ted Richards is the modern backman personified; adaptable, competitive and strong.
Sewell to keep Hawkeye on Swan
Martin Blake Brad Sewell is the most likely marker for Josh Kennedy on Saturday.
Football
Oh brother, a family's dilemma
Martin Blake For the Reid family of Bright, it will inevitably be a bitter-sweet preliminary final day.
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
Malceski's snap is one for the ages
Martin Blake Sydney half-back Nick Malceski took centre stage in the final act of the classic.
Lyon gets quick results with Freo
Martin Blake Ross Lyon and Fremantle are working well together, writes Martin Blake.
AFL
Communication poor on suspensions: Demetriou
Martin Blake Andrew Demetriou admits that the AFL's match review panel and judiciary system is imperfect, but insists that it is better than the old system.
Swans set to end Magpies' streak
Martin Blake Everyone falls in love with the qualifying final winners and dumps the losers, but recent history shows that it is not necessarily a good guide to the preliminary finals.
Pies know the score and it must get better
Martin Blake If Collingwood has problems, then some perspective is required.
Buckley stands by his under-siege forwards
Martin Blake Nathan Buckley is not happy with his two key forwards, Travis Cloke and Chris Dawes. But he believes they have copped too much of the focus since last weekend's defeat by North Melbourne.
MCG travel bug won't go away
Martin Blake Four Victorian clubs have made the finals and four from outside the game's heartland.
No regrets as Bombers veteran McVeigh calls it a day
Martin Blake Essendon's 232-game veteran Mark McVeigh has retired with no regrets. McVeigh, 31, told his teammates this morning at Windy Hill that he would not go on in 2013.
