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.
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.
Blues delay contract talks with McLean
Martin Blake Brock McLean has no guarantee of a place at Carlton next year, despite being arguably the club's best player in the past month.
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.
AFL
Blues too sharp for Tigers
Martin Blake The mirage of a dramatically improved Richmond takes just one match to be exposed.
Saints embrace tall order against Blues
Martin Blake Under Grant Thomas, St Kilda did not particularly rate the importance of ruckmen.
Brownlow quirks and oddities
Emma Quayle and Martin Blake Some of the more notable anomalies arising from the AFL's biggest award.
Zero chance of complacency, says Ratten
Martin Blake The bad news for Carlton is that the Blues need to win both their remaining games to play finals.
AFL
Swans keep rolling along
Martin Blake For Carlton, the Waite-ing was over. Jarrad Waite made his return to a navy blue guernsey. But the waiting for a finals berth and a recovering from this cursed season is effectively over, and that...
AFL
Richardson in mix for Power coaching job
Martin Blake The Carlton senior assistant coach retains an ambition to coach at the highest level.
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.
Beams me up, Pie rising
Martin Blake Dayne Beams is grabbing his opportunity to shine with both hands and earning plaudits all round.
AFL
Hit for six
Matt Murnane and Martin Blake This year's AFL fixture throws up its challenges and opportunities for all clubs - even if the balance of each is not the same - and St Kilda and Carlton are facing their challenging periods right...
AFL defends Carlton's reduced preparation
Martin Blake and Matt Murnane The AFL has defended the controversial fixturing of tonight's Carlton-West Coast match at Patersons Stadium, saying the Thursday night timeslot was done purely to maximise television exposure.
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.
MRP throws the book at big names
Martin Blake Adelaide’s key forward Taylor Walker, St Kilda star Brendon Goddard, Hawthorn defender Brent Guerra, Essendon half-forward Stewart Crameri and Richmond on-baller Daniel Jackson have all incurred the...
AFL
From pretenders to contenders in five easy steps
Martin Blake Martin Blake finds ways Carlton can conjure a miracle against Collingwood tonight
AFL
Fledgling Blue gets thrown to the wolves
Martin Blake AT THE height of his dramas, Brett Ratten has punted on a first-gamer for Carlton's season-defining game against Collingwood at the MCG tonight.
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.
