Robert Walls
In a 259-game career, Robert Walls played in three premierships (1968, 1970 and 1972) for Carlton, captaining the team in 1997 and 1978 before ending his career with Fitzroy. He coached the Lions between 1981 and 1985 before switching back to the Blues and steering them to the 1987 premiership. Walls writes weekly for The Age.
AFL
Nic Nat and Daw a clash to savour
Robert Walls Andrew Demetriou and the AFL Commission will be delighted that the two biggest drawcards in Friday night's game in Perth are young men who come from vastly different backgrounds.
AFL
Time to toughen up, Tiges
Robert Walls When push comes to shove, Richmond has too many whinges, too many excuses.
AFL
How the Eagles must rue their missing Lynch
Robert Walls I've enjoyed watching Quinten Lynch play football over the past 10 years. He is an old-fashioned footballer. He even plays with his socks pulled up.
AFL
Cats must lift to match the Swans' class
Robert Walls Geelong and Sydney have been the two best clubs in recent years, with one or the other involved in seven of the past eight grand finals.
AFL
More glory days to come for entertaining Cats?
Robert Walls The Balnarring butcher's face lights up every time I enter his shop. It's not because he is happy to see me, it's because once again he wants to tell me how good his Cats are.
AFL
Defensive Dockers put Dons to test
Robert Walls The Bombers will be truly tested in Perth on Friday night. Season-opening wins over the cocky Crows and demoralised Demons have been good for confidence and percentage, but now they face Fremantle,...
Robert Walls
Saints need more speed to succeed
Robert Walls Richmond on the rise, St Kilda on the slide. That's what most folks thought over summer. Last week's round-one results probably confirmed that.
Men on a mission
Robert Walls Round-one clash between arch rivals Richmond and Carlton carries much weight.
Swans fresh and ready to fly in tough scrap
Robert Walls Get set for a low-scoring, high-tackling and full-on contest tonight when Sydney hosts Collingwood on the dead track at ANZ Stadium.
Sam and Ted's excellent adventure
Robert Walls SYDNEY coach John Longmire has done a fine job in his short two-year tenure in the hot seat. But can he steer his team to a premiership flag tomorrow? The bookies and popular opinion think not.
Robert Walls
Precise Hawks to cut Pies to shreds
Robert Walls The hot and hungry Hawks should be too good for the mediocre Magpies.
Robert Walls
Freo to put the screws on Crows
Robert Walls Five weeks ago at home, the Crows comfortably beat the Dockers by 28 points. That day, Rising Star winner Daniel Talia kept Matthew Pavlich in check, and two of the Dockers' very best, Aaron...
Robert Walls
Former greats find that coaching grates
Robert Walls Coaching does strange things to usually sane men. The highs are high, the lows low. Frustration builds, excitement boils over. The sacrifices are great, the satisfaction is short.
Robert Walls
Malthouse a big risk as Blues err in axing Ratten
Robert Walls It's 2001 and after 10 years as Carlton coach, David Parkin hands the reins to the low-profile Wayne Brittain.
Football
The middle men
Robert Walls A slick midfield list presents All-Australian selectors with some tough choices.
Robert Walls
Magnificent seven's hopes flagging
Robert Walls Eight-and-a-half years ago, some young Cats and Saints were considered the up-and-comers.
Robert Walls
Geelong kiss goodnight
Robert Walls I will be very surprised if the Cats get within five goals of the premiership favourites.
Robert Walls
Cats showing all the signs of an era ending
Robert Walls A decade ago, the Brisbane Lions were in their prime. They won their first flag in 2001. Two more came straight after and on their fourth attempt at premiership success, they were toppled by Port...
Richmond on verge of something special
Robert Walls Richmond is getting to the stage where it knows what's required and its improved skill level gives it every chance to succeed.
