About Tim Gavel
Sports commentator with ABC Grandstand for over 30 years Tim Gavel has called a range of sports including NRL, Super Rugby, Wallabies, Rowing World Cups, Rugby World Cups, Socceroos, Matildas, Opals, Boomers, WNBL, NBL, International Netball, Men's and Women's one day international cricket, Big Bash, World Volleyball League for Fox Sports, Rowing World Cup and National Championships for Fox Sports and the 2000 Paralympics.
All Articles
Sport
Bec Goddard has been a trailblazer for women in a range of sporting pursuits, including as coach of the Adelaide Crows women’s AFL team when they won the flag in the inaugural season. She was also the first female field umpire in the North East Australian Football League, and the first female to be involved in the coaching structure at...
Sport
Nikki Ayers still remembers the pain as she writhed in agony after dislocating her knee, tearing multiple ligaments, and severing a major artery and the main nerve in her right knee. It came from a regulation tackle after Nikki made a break playing in a pre-season rugby union game for the Tuggeranong Viqueens against Royals in 2016. Says Nikki, “I...
Sport
Most people know that there is more to gaining emotional support from fans of sport than simply winning. Sure, winning helps, but if other factors aren’t taken care of, winning in the minds of supporters can appear hollow. We have seen it in the past in Canberra. There was a disconnect between fans and the Raiders during the Super League...
Sport
In a Charnwood cafe in Canberra three years ago, Dr David Headon met with former Raiders chairman, John McIntyre. They were there to discuss the writing of a history of the Raiders Club. With over 30 years' involvement with the Raiders as secretary and chairman, John McIntyre was well placed to provide insight. He had been there in the tough...
Opinion
If you are like me, you would have grown up listening to the Olympics on the radio. Television reception wasn’t great in the bush, so the radio was our connection to the outside world. It was great when driving as well. The picture could be created with words and your mind does the rest. The impact that it had on...
Sport
Mel Breen says she's feeling comfortable within herself as she prepares to lift her campaign to qualify for next year’s Tokyo Olympics to another level. That feeling's been a long time coming. This mindset is, in part, a reflection of her injury-free status after a horror year in 2019 in which she was hampered by foot, nerve and hamstring injuries....
Sport
Next year’s double-header at Eden Park in Auckland has the potential to be a great sporting social experiment. The possibility of such an event has been talked about for some years but it always fell short for a number of reasons, not the least being the self-interest of the respective codes. But it appears times have changed in the quest...
Sport
As sure as night follows day, player managers will be on the phone to Raiders CEO Don Furner seeking an upgrade for their charges. There will also be carefully planted stories suggesting players may look to go elsewhere if there is no upgrade. This is usually followed by assertions from the player that while they are happy at the Raiders,...
Sport
If things had been different in a sliding-doors moment, Jordan Rapana could have been playing for the Wallabies this weekend at the World Cup in Japan. Rapana, of course, will instead line-up for the Raiders in Sunday’s Grand Final against the Roosters in what seems as far away as possible from his days running around for Royals in the John...
Sport
I remember when I was first informed that Ricky Stuart would be returning to coach the Raiders. I wasn’t sure if it was the right move, having witnessed another legend recently depart the club. David Furner had been axed with three games to go before the end of the 2013 season and everybody associated with the club was emotionally drained...
Sport
When the Canberra Raiders made their debut in the NSWRL in 1982, few could have imagined that the side which finished with the wooden spoon in that first year would go on to win the premiership in their eighth season. The Greater Western Sydney Giants, with their well-documented connection to Canberra, also finished with the wooden spoon in their debut...
Sport
Last weekend I was at the Canberra Cup Water Polo tournament and saw an all female-coaching team in charge of a team of 17-year-old boys. I sincerely hope the sight will become so commonplace at all competitive levels in the future that I wouldn't even notice it. As it stands, there is still a dearth of women in senior sports...
Sport
As the Brumbies hierarchy prepares for this week’s Fan Forum, they'll be taking on board suggestions from a range of stakeholders but it is the opinion of those who are passionate about the team that should count for most: the fans. For many supporters, there had been a perception that their opinion counted for little before major changes were made...
Sport
Tom Green is accustomed to meeting AFL Talent scouts keen to know every aspect of his life and personality including his upbringing and schooling. For an 18-year-old it can be daunting, but it’s part and parcel of being a prospect in the build-up to the AFL Draft in November. And if you believe the hype, he has a chance of...
Sport
When Ricky Stuart signed on as coach of the Canberra Raiders in a three-year deal in 2014, he made it his mission to ensure his players were integrated into the community. Over the years there had been a feeling of disconnect. Players were doing plenty of school visits and the like but there was a sense they weren’t gaining traction...
Sport
Attempting to understand the vagaries of sport is often a challenging task. And anyone who is riding the wave with the Raiders to the finals series would understand the highs and the lows. But let’s give some time to others involved in sport that are facing their own trials and tribulations. The highs and lows are different in each case...