Michael Lynch, The Age's expert on soccer, has had extensive experience of high level journalism in the UK and Australia. Michael has covered the Socceroos through Asia, Europe and South America in their past three World Cup campaigns. He has also reported on Grands Prix and top class motor sport from Asia and Europe. He has won several national media awards for both sports and industry journalism.
Defensive stability and more confidence in front of goal are the priorities for newly confirmed Melbourne City boss Michael Valkanis as he prepares for a challenging match against Newcastle.
Sydney FC are riding high at the top of the table with 12 wins and four draws – enough to give them 40 points from their 16 games and put them on course to set all sorts of records in the A-League's 12th season. But are they the best team the competition has seen?
Melbourne City's search for a high-profile coach to replace the departed John van 't Schip has been put on hold.
The Moonee Valley Cox Plate, won last year by Winx, has been has been declared the second-strongest race run anywhere in the world in 2016.
Graham Arnold's Sydney side comes to Melbourne on Thursday trying to keep its unbeaten A-League run – which stretches now to 16 matches this season – intact.
The lawyer for embattled South Australian jockey Josh Cartwright argues that the young rider's misdemeanour in the now infamous Adelaide race, which saw him stood down after admitting a charge of reckless riding, was on a par with that of Victorian champion Damien Oliver in the spring carnival.
What a difference a few hurdles makes.
What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago Melbourne City were the team of all-conquering talents in the W-League.
The summer so often only seems to heat up when the kids go back to school.
Last season Darren Weir smashed John Hawkes' record for training the most winners in an Australian season when he saddled up 348 of them. Can he go even better and nudge the 400 barrier?
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