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.
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.
Dawes finds an opening as Magpies bolster ruck
Martin Blake Collingwood has made a last-ditch punt on Chris Dawes for the qualifying final against Hawthorn at the MCG tonight after the out-of-form ruck-forward was dropped for the last round of the...
AFL
Dawes finds an opening as Pies bolster ruck
Martin Blake Collingwood has made a last-ditch punt on Chris Dawes for the qualifying final.
AFL
Clash of the big birds guaranteed titanic
Martin Blake For reasons that are not all that clear, Sydney has a problem with the Adelaide Crows.
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.
AFL
State of mind gives Pies the wood over Swans
Martin Blake Collingwood's streak over Sydney looms large, writes Martin Blake.
One Dog no match for Swans
Martin Blake This is a tale of team versus individual. Almost inevitably, the former wins. It is simple mathematics.
Cats may rise from depths
Martin Blake Teams of this calibre in the bottom of the eight assure some surprises.
Swans just keep on winning
Martin Blake, Sydney Sydney keeps on winning, relentlessly and impressively. You have to hand it to the top-of-the-table Swans.
Football
Winderlich back as Bombers test the best
Martin Blake Winless Essendon picks its strongest possible squad for tomorrow's NAB Cup match against Sydney.
AFL
Tonight's NAB Cup games
Martin Blake A preview of tonight's NAB Cup matches, Essendon vs Sydney and Collingwood vs Adelaide.
Swan delivers the Goodes again
Martin Blake, Launceston Adam Goodes comes to Sydney's aid in his record-seting 304th game.
Back-line players need greater recognition
Martin Blake The clubs are not perfect in rewarding their defenders, but they are at least on to it.
