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.
Hayes is St Kilda's best
Martin Blake Lenny Hayes has won his third Trevor Barker Award as St Kilda's best and fairest player.
AFL
St Kilda, Sydney in Anzac Day clash in NZ
Martin Blake AFL admits success or failure of St Kilda's Wellington venture could determine whether the league tries to put a team in New Zealand.
Alleged St Kilda fat slur 'isolated'
Jared Lynch, Martin Blake The AFL will not take further action against St Kilda after Saints players marred Women's Round by becoming embroiled in claims they degraded a young fan by refusing to pose for photographs.
AFL
Reward at last for Dons' skipper
Martin Blake Jobe Watson caps off his third consecutive outstanding year with the game's most prestigious and famous individual honour.
Football
Malceski's snap is one for the ages
Martin Blake Sydney half-back Nick Malceski took centre stage in the final act of the classic.
Stevie J pays a high price
Martin Blake Surely the Steve Johnson bump on Dan Hannebery does not constitute a reportable offence?
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.
Goldsack on track to tackle Eagles
Martin Blake Utility continues push for inclusion in Collingwood's team for semi-final.
AFL
Saints, Swans to play on Anzac Day in NZ
Martin Blake St Kilda and Sydney will play the first AFL match for premiership points outside Australia in New Zealand on Anzac Day in 2013.
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.
Lyon gets quick results with Freo
Martin Blake Ross Lyon and Fremantle are working well together, writes Martin Blake.
Bulldog Minson offered a week
Martin Blake Western Bulldogs' season of woe is made worse with ruckman Will Minson being offered a one-match suspension for stomping by the AFL's match review panel.
Hayes cleared by MRP
Martin Blake Lenny Hayes' reprieve by match review panel proves that not all head-high contact draw sanction.
Buckley wants MRP reviewed
Martin Blake Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says he was "surprised" by the decision to reprieve Western Bulldog Will Minson for stomping and has called for the AFL to review the Match Review Panel at season’s...
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.
Reprieve divides the experts
Jared Lynch, Martin Blake Western Bulldog Will Minson's reprieve at the AFL Tribunal for stomping has fractured opinion among leading club officials and commentators.
Franklin back as Hawthorn ups the ante
Martin Blake LANCE Franklin's long-awaited return from a hamstring injury and illness, along with the inclusion of former captain Sam Mitchell and Josh Gibson, gives Hawthorn an imposing look for the...
A marvellous 'mockbuster'
Martin Blake North and Freo to star in off-Broadway hit, writes Martin Blake.
Docker upset locks in top eight
Martin Blake Fremantle has turned the lower half of the top eight upside down.
