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.
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.
Beams me up, Pie rising
Martin Blake Dayne Beams is grabbing his opportunity to shine with both hands and earning plaudits all round.
Martin Blake
Can the Hawks end the hoodoo?
Martin Blake Five key questions to ponder when assessing whether Hawthorn can break Geelong's spell.
Football
Dees dump big names
Martin Blake and Matt Murnane Mark Neeld last night reacted savagely to the thrashing in Sydney, dumping veteran players.
AFL
Gold digger
Martin Blake Tyson Goldsack has had a 10-out-of-10 season. He has played all 10 senior games for Collingwood, a step forward for a player who has never quite established himself in six years of football.
AFL
Rookie decision: Magpies back Irish youngster
Martin Blake Collingwood elevates Irish teenager Caolan Mooney from its rookie list and picks him to play against Fremantle.
Martin Blake
Footy looks to shake the tag
Martin Blake In the Mick Malthouse reign at Collingwood, the Magpies stopped using taggers.
Football
Steely Dees ground Pies
Martin Blake Melbourne was the better team all night; only poor conversion stopped it from dominating.
AFL
Watts to 'rest'
Martin Blake Jack Watts was ostensibly dropped for the Demons' final practice game against Port Adelaide.
Football
Goals, grog, pain, pleas: camera catches it all
Martin Blake CAM Mooney missed seeing the first goal of the 2011 grand final.
