Martin Flanagan
Martin Flanagan is a journalist and author who writes on sport, Australian culture and the relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous Australia.
Grant Hansen displays the courage and energy to get things done
Martin Flanagan Grant Hansen grew up in the western suburbs barracking for the Bulldogs. His father George was a one-eyed Bulldog who worked in pubs and had "the gift of the gab".
AFL grand final: A day of bad omens for the Eagles
Martin Flanagan The CEO of an AFL club said before the 2014 grand final that his club estimated they needed to improve by 10 per cent to win a premiership. That rose to 30 per cent after that grand final. And now?
AFL grand final 2015: Grand finale for a season like no other
Martin Flanagan No one word or phrase could possibly sum up the 2015 AFL season.
Musa Amin and Mohamed Mohamed win 2015 Bachar Houli medal
Martin Flanagan The joint winners of this year's Bachar Houli Leadership Medal are Musa Amin and Mohamed Mohamed.
Remembering Jimmy Melbourne, a Nyoongar pioneer
Martin Flanagan Polly Farmer is a Nyoongar. Some say he's the best footballer who ever played.
A mother's courage sends a powerful message on respect
Martin Flanagan Something happened in the crowd at last Sunday's elimination final.
Richmond Tigers fly in young cancer sufferer for final
Martin Flanagan Young cancer victim Isaiah Muller is a mad Richmond fan and to show their appreciation, the club has flown him over from Adelaide to attend the final.
AFL finals 2015: Why people love the Tigers
Martin Flanagan Normally when you say someone's got character in AFL footy it's a credit to their manly virtues.
North Melbourne-Bulldogs match a game to rekindle football faith
Martin Flanagan Sometimes you need a reminder of why you care about football.
Barracking for football's magic moments
Martin Flanagan Ned hasn't got a team yet. He's three months old. I'm Ned's grandfather. His father, the Colonel, is a Hawthorn fanatic.
Time for a real discussion about Tasmanian football
Martin Flanagan The person the AFL Commission should be talking to in Hobart on Friday is an authentic Tasmanian football voice like Thane Brady.
An open letter to AFL boss Gil McLachlan: show Tassie some respect
Martin Flanagan The AFL has to start talking to the people in Tasmania who are the blood and sinew of the game.
Eagles v Dogs: Clash of two football philosophies one to savour
Martin Flanagan Two philosophies of the game were on display last weekend.
Footy's just dandy at Sandy
Martin Flanagan We're going to the footy at Sandy. That's what people with a fondness for Sandringham call it.
Making a stand for Adam Goodes
Martin Flanagan Nelson Mandela said sport has more power than governments when it comes to changing attitudes and no one in sport speaks louder than the players.
Fellow players can help end the booing of Adam Goodes
Martin Flanagan The people who can arrest the booing of Adam Goodes are his fellow AFL players.
Big bird from the west can wreck Hawks' three-peat dream
Martin Flanagan The team to watch right now is West Coast. Hawthorn may look to have the premiership in its grasp, but if there's one team that can stage an upset in September I fancy it's West Coast.
AFL's corporatisation woven into Collingwood superfan's raw life story
Martin Flanagan Of all the words to be written about AFL football this year, none may prove more telling than those in Joffa Corfe's newly released autobiography, Isn't That Life?.
How 'Gil from LA' fell in love with Australian football – and the Dockers
Martin Flanagan He's known to listeners of Perth radio station 6PR, which he rings after every Dockers' home game, as "Gil from LA".
Blues show pure intent: what a difference a month makes
Martin Flanagan Last Tuesday week, I met a Carlton supporter called Judy Mullen. I said the Blues looked like they'd lost their spirit as a club. She was forthright in saying she didn't agree.
