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
Having put myself through hundreds of tweets about Friday night’s AFL game between the Giants and the Hawks at Manuka Oval, I am convinced more than ever that the cold weather gives Canberra a point of difference. Sure, there was a certain amount of discord from some watching from afar questioning why the AFL would schedule night games in Canberra...
Sport
Such is his popularity, it would be no surprise to see a generation of young rugby league players in Canberra running around in the future donning Jarrod Croker-style white headgear. This could be partly due to the fact that he gives his headgear away to fans after each game, but more so as a reflection of his positive influence within...
Sport
A Football Federation fan forum in Canberra earlier this year moved to assure the local football community that the ACT would be one of the next to be considered for an A-League Licence. The assurance followed disappointment that Canberra had once again been overlooked in favour of a third team in both Sydney and Melbourne. The FFA though gave cause...
Sport
Nick Delatovic says he has learned to try for absurd long shots. None, it would appear, as being longer than to represent Australia in wrestling at next year’s Tokyo Olympic Games. What makes this story unique is the fact that Nick only took up the sport when he was 23 years old, an age when most people in wrestling are...
Sport
Switch on social media anytime during a televised sporting contest and the emotions are often overwhelming to the extreme, ranging from elation to despair. Seconds after a fixture is finished the Twittersphere erupts and in the wake of a loss there are calls for a coach to be axed or drastic changes to be made. More often than not we...
Sport
I just watched a replay of the 1989 grand final against the Balmain Tigers. Who could forget this most amazing game, etched in the minds or all Raiders fans? The self-belief and team spirit was incredible. Watching the current Raiders players mix with the team from 1989 at the Hall of Fame gala ball was a privilege. The chemistry between...
Sport
Over the past couple of months, I have witnessed some genuine characters emerge in Canberra sport. Unfortunately, those attending fund-raisers and other functions are the only witnesses to the ‘character’ side of some of our local elite sportspeople. By ‘character’ I refer to the ability to see the personality of the individual through their humour, opinions, values and views. I...
Sport
Everybody, it seems, has an opinion about Nick Kyrgios. He is either the most entertaining figure in a sport struggling for personalities, or he is a renegade with little respect for the traditions of tennis. For good measure, the anti-Kyrgios brigade will also add a ‘wasted talent’, rivalling Mark Philippoussis and Bernard Tomic. What isn’t up for debate is his...
Sport
Just over ten years ago there was uncertainty over whether the Canberra community could run a sustainable franchise in the proposed Australian Baseball League. In the end, it took a public meeting at the Eastlake Football Club to effectively determine the level of support in front of representatives from the ABL. History now shows the Canberra team was established and...
Sport
In 2016 the Braidwood Redbacks Rugby Union Club didn’t have enough players to field a team, while the Tuggeranong Hawks up until last weekend hadn’t won a game in the AFL Canberra competition in two years. So what motivates clubs to continue when players are scarce and when winning is unlikely? More often than not, it comes down to a...
Sport
At 24 years of age, Kayla Nisbet has experienced plenty: Broken legs, fractured feet, a broken wrist, and a battle with epilepsy, which threatened her career. Such is the life of a jockey. In the saddle most days of the week performing track work or racing, the injury toll is seen as just part of the job. And it is...
Sport
As the Brumbies prepare to play the Jaguares in the Super Rugby semi-final this weekend in Argentina, the organisation finds itself at a fascinating juncture. The playing group is one of the tightest I have witnessed in my time covering sport in Canberra and nationally for over 30 years, with each and every player showing commitment to each other. If...
Sport
I am not privy to the Brumbies’ financial position but the lack of crowd numbers to their home games must be hurting the bottom-line and is surely not sustainable. Just 6311 fans turned out last Friday night at Canberra Stadium, bringing the season average to 8332. Compare this to the Raiders: they played the following day in front of a...
Sport
At 27 years of age, Tim D’abrera has already had what most would consider a lifetime of obstacles thrown his way including plenty of medical issues. But his resilience is unbelievable. Born with an intellectual disability and profound deafness, Tim lives for sport, in particular, track and field. His preferred discipline is pole vault, but he competes in just about...
Community
Canberra motor sport legend Dave Wignall concedes putting his collection of car memorabilia, meticulously maintained for over two decades, up for sale was one of the toughest decisions he has made in his life, but in the end he had little option. Dave is battling terminal liver cancer, and he didn’t want to leave the burden of organising the sale...
Sport
As the fall out continues at a national and international level over a range of issues concerning player behaviour, free speech and genetic makeup, it is becoming increasingly clear that there has never been more division over community expectations. Rugby Australia acted on Israel Folau, saying his views don’t reflect those of the national governing body. And surely concerns about...