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.
Does the Professional Footballers Australia team of the year - loaded with Sydney defenders and Melbourne Victory attackers - provide the best clue as to how Kevin Muscat's outsiders could derail the Sky Blue Express in the "Big Blue" grand final on Sunday?
Jockey could barely suppress a smile as he cantered his horse down to the start for the Brierly Steeplechase.
As a jumps jockey, Steven Pateman has won everything there is to win at the famous Warrnambool May carnival.
So the form book works out again, as it invariably does in the A-League championship race.
It was the enormous confidence of Melbourne Victory's record-breaking striker Besart Berisha which put Kevin Muscat's team into the A-League grand final, and it is the same reserves of belief which can power them to an upset victory, the Kosovan hit man believes.
A confident Kevin Muscat, pumped by the semi-final win over Brisbane, declared that Melbourne Victory could end Sydney FC's record-breaking season in misery.
Hard-fought 1-0 semi final win ensures Kevin Muscat's team will progress to an A-League Grand Final showdown with Premiers Sydney FC.
Jumps racing takes centre stage in Warrnambool this week, though there's also plenty of flat racing on offer.
His team-mates call him "Killer" and that's just what Neil Kilkenny did to them when it came to scooping up the plaudits at Melbourne City's club awards night.
Brisbane goalkeeper Jamie Young has come through treatment well and will be fit to take his place for a full-strength Roar when they line up against Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park in Sunday evening's A-League semi-final.
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