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About Robert Walls
About Robert Walls
A former premiership player and premiership coach, Robert Walls continues to stamp his influence on the game as a fearless columnist. Walls was centre-half-forward in Carlton's 1970 and 1972 premiership teams, and was also a member of the Blues' 1968 premiership team. Forced into retirement due to a knee injury, Walls threw his hat into the ring to coach Fitzroy and was appointed without even having an interview. He also coached Carlton (taking the Blues to a premiership in 1987), the Brisbane Bears and Richmond. Along with his hard-hitting columns in The Age, Walls also appears on Channel Ten's AFL coverage and radio 3AW.
How the cunning Cats turn defence into lethal attack
The best backmen play on the opposition's lesser lights, freeing them up to cut loose.
Cats to give Paul Roos a reality check
A heavy loss to Geelong will confirm the Swans can't win a premiership, a win or close loss will show another flag is possible.
Barass and Big Nick help relive glory days of '68
A special bond was formed between players who won a flag when leadership, and television, were black and white.
Don't overlook the sidekicks to the stars
Roughead and Bradshaw, the support acts, are having fine seasons and their efforts should be acknowledged.
Stumbling into poor judgement
Disciplinary matters such as these have the potential to put clubs in an almost impossible position.
Great skippers are made as well as born
Essendon's Matthew Lloyd and Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell are works in progress as captains. Nathan Buckley was the same.
Pie in the sky
Jonathan Brown is yet to re-sign with the Brisbane Lions for 2009. If that means he's coming home to Victoria, Collingwood would be the perfect destination.
Oldies struggle to go the pace
The challenge for veteran coaches Malthouse and Matthews is to keep up with a fast-changing game.
Saints give fans - and themselves - hope
Non-negotiable standards have been set and St Kilda is transformed.
Not too late for old Dogs to learn new tricks
Yesterday, Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade and his assistants would have given their team a debriefing after the 10-goal loss to league leader Geelong.
Walls coaches the Bulldogs
My players are confident they can take the Cats on on their own turf - and beat them.
Master class
Gary Ablett could learn a lot from Chris Judd on how to handle taggers.
Game shows it's on the ball
Football is changing off the field as well as on it, with a commonsense approach to tackling player issues.
The good, the bad and the ugly
Geelong stuns the Crows as Barry Hall stuns the footy world - again.
A legend among legends
Legends Ron Barassi, Tom Hafey, Bob Davis, Ken Hands and journalist Ron Carter say Mr Football is the game's greatest.
'Big Nick' was the best I ever saw
In a career that spanned some 18 seasons, John Nicholls did it all at Carlton.
Legend No 4: John Nicholls
In a career that spanned some 18 seasons, John Nicholls did it all at Carlton.
Loving the enemy
The scars of battles past have slowly healed for a diehard Blue who went to coach at Tigerland, but the rivalry between the clubs remains alive.
Concentrated Power corrupted
Recent history suggests Port's one-man band is incongruous and results are backing that up.
The top eight in the top eight
All top-half teams have quality players, but I have chosen one from each of the top-eight teams whom I believe is essential to his team's success.
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