Martin Blake on Swans - Real Footy - canberratimes.com.au

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.

AFL

State of mind gives Pies the wood over Swans

Martin Blake Collingwood's streak over Sydney looms large, writes Martin Blake.

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...

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.

Football

Bombers fall short as Swans soar

Martin Blake The AFL's surprise new ladder-leader, Sydney, beat Essendon by four points in one of the games of the season.

Swans declaw Cats

Martin Blake Geelong's malaise is back, although the dreaded premiership hangover may be a way off yet.

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.

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.

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.

Football

Hawks haunted by grand Swan

Martin Blake Next Saturday, former Hawk Josh Kennedy presents arguably the biggest single threat to Hawthorn's quest for an 11th premiership.

No place to run, or hide

Martin Blake Ted Richards is the modern backman personified; adaptable, competitive and strong.

Sewell to keep Hawkeye on Swan

Martin Blake Brad Sewell is the most likely marker for Josh Kennedy on Saturday.

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.

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...