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.
Brownlow quirks and oddities
Emma Quayle and Martin Blake Some of the more notable anomalies arising from the AFL's biggest award.
Shock as All-Australian squad named
Martin Blake Hawthorn defender Josh Gibson and Western Bulldogs skipper Matthew Boyd are among the unlucky players who missed out on All-Australian squad selection yesterday.
Blues battlers to the end
Martin Blake Brett Ratten's last game for Carlton ends in more heartache, with St Kilda winning by 15 points.
Football
Bombers close to full strength for decider
Martin Blake Essendon will put its season on the line by fielding its best on-paper team for a month.
Blake's progress: a tale of survival
Martin Blake Twice this season, Jason Blake has played pivotal parts in St Kilda wins.
Face your demons
Martin Blake Tom Scully is going to a place a few have been before him, and none found it pleasant.
Five reasons to watch the footy in a dud round
Martin Blake OK, so the most attractive game's already come and gone, in Perth last night.
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.
AFL
From pretenders to contenders in five easy steps
Martin Blake Martin Blake finds ways Carlton can conjure a miracle against Collingwood tonight
Martin Blake
Footy looks to shake the tag
Martin Blake In the Mick Malthouse reign at Collingwood, the Magpies stopped using taggers.
'Other' Judd ruining legacy of a great player
Martin Blake It is becoming increasingly apparent that there are not one but two Chris Judds.
Judd takes legal lead from Bill Clinton
Martin Blake Carlton captain went with the ''I didn't inhale'' defence made infamous by former US president.
Vote magnet in medal tilt again
Martin Blake Could Dane Swan win the Brownlow Medal for a second year in a row?
Manager apologises for blast over ban
Martin Blake, Matt Murnane Leading player manager Paul Connors has been forced into a public apology after his strident criticism of an ''interfering'' AFL, as the fallout from the Chris Judd suspension swirled yesterday.
Petrie in hot water over tribunal criticism
Martin Blake North Melbourne vice-captain Drew Petrie is facing an AFL sanction over public criticism of the AFL tribunal, but the Kangaroos have accepted they can go no further in defending midfielder Jack...
Football
Another casualty for Blues
Martin Blake Carlton's hard-nosed midfielder Mitch Robinson has joined the pre-season casualty list.
Blues bomb out in NAB Cup but coach stays upbeat
Martin Blake A MONTH ago, Carlton was being touted as a premiership contender. Four weeks on, the Blues have all but doused that particular flame themselves.
AFL
Blues bomb out in NAB Cup, but coach stays upbeat
Martin Blake A month ago, Carlton was being touted as a premiership contender.
