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About Greg Baum
About Greg Baum
Despite more than 20 years as a sports writer, Greg Baum still gets excited about going to the MCG to cover an event. He was first exposed to the passions generated by Australian football when, as a six-year-old, he witnessed his uncle's excitement over St Kilda's 1966 premiership triumph. Even though he was obsessed with sport and wanted to become a journalist, the thought of combining the two ideas hadn't crossed his mind. He was an aspiring political journalist but his ability to vividly tell sporting stories was soon in demand. Baum, now The Age's chief sports writer, is widely-respected for his flair with words and his understanding of what really matters to fans.
'Wanted' champion may be filed away in the too-hard basket
Ben Cousins has ended up in the too-hard basket, though in a twist that has characterised the whole of this protracted saga, Richmond has not turned its back completely.
Come on, if Cousins was failed by anyone, it was himself
The AFL and its clubs are as responsible as all organisations for the welfare of their people. But they are not welfare agencies.
Time to speak up and come clean
Two football seasons have passed since Ben Cousins' drug addiction first became public and he embarked on the long, tortuous and not yet complete journey to recovery.
He's a champion, so why are clubs so hesitant?
Like a glaring irregularity in a pathology report, there is something about the Ben Cousins case that doesn't add up.
Geelong's defeat good for fans — really
Winning, losing or drawing doesn't matter — what matters, apparently, is being a fan.
Football codes could collide
As player physiques become more similar, footy codes may clash.
Shining brown and gold
Old and new Hawthorn met in rapturous premiership celebration at Glenferrie Oval yesterday.
Hawks sup deep from cup
Barely 36 hours since it was presented, the 2008 premiership cup is already widely travelled.
Kitty, kitty bang-bang
Old suburban rivalries, allegiances, heavy hits and heroics come to a head as the Hawks took their chance to run over an old foe.
I’m happy to point out half-wittery
Today, we recognise a self-seeker’s usual mistake of confusing show with substance.
It's still so grand for the Hawks
It is Mulgrave, not Glenferrie, and morning, not night. But, after
17 tumultuous years, Hawthorn is back in the grand final.
Reliving Glenferrie glory
If Hawthorn has about it the look of a club that knows where it is
going, it might be because the Hawks are more acutely aware than
most of where they have come from.
It's Adam's eve
The Western Bulldogs' Adam Cooney swooped late to win the Brownlow Medal last night, beating by a vote Brisbane's Simon Black, a former winner who was runner-up for the second year in a row.
Learning to live with Charles
St Kilda legend Neil Roberts’ life changed forever the day he won his Brownlow Medal.
Learning to live with Charlie
AFL warily steps back into the lab
With one successful experiment behind it, the AFL needs to exercise great care with its latest.
Footballers yearn for late September Saturday
Footballers and fans alike dream of being there on grand final day,
and only then of premierships.
AFL panel runs fine lines between pleasure and pain
The machinations of the review panel occur within very narrow parameters.
Unleash the Hounds
The natural order is asserting itself. The top three from the home-and-away season are all through to next week's preliminary final round following the Western Bulldogs' thumping win over Sydney
Making football a not-so-simple game
University studies into aspects of Australian football are admirable, if a little dubious.
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