Best sporting action shots of past 30 years

Spectacular crashes, bone crunching tackles, Grand Final glory and a shark attack feature in a selection of the best sporting pictures of the last three decades.

1996: Cups King Bart Cumming at Flemington with his nine Melbourne Cups. The horse in the background, Saintly, duly saluted the following week to give him his 10th. He finished with 12 before his death in 2015. Picture: Bruce Howard

THE images tell you the result. Win. Loss. Elation. Agony.

The Herald Sun’s photographers have given us a close-up view of the emotions of the sporting arena.

For three decades, they have charted the most memorable moments; historic Melbourne Cups, famous AFL Grand Finals, spectacular Formula 1 crashes.

The shots perfectly capture a frame in time.

2002: In what is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular crashes in Formula One history, Ralf Schumacher takes the aerial route after colliding with Rubens Barrichello during the first lap of the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. Picture: AP Photo/Joe Mann

Leo Barry’s pack mark to seal the Swans’ drought-breaking premiership.

The injured Bob Murphy celebrating when the Dogs broke their premiership drought.

Mark Williams doing the choking gesture with his tie before declaring in his speech: “Allan Scott, you were wrong”.

Michelle Payne soaking up her against-the-odds victory as the first woman to ride a Melbourne Cup winner.

2015: No one gave 100-1 shot Prince of Penzance any chance in the Melbourne Cup. But Michelle Payne rode the race of her life to claim victory and become the first female jockey to win Australia’s greatest race. Picture: Colleen Petch

Mick Fanning’s encounter with a great white shark off the coast of South Africa.

Many pictures will be remembered for years to come.

Nicky Winmar lifting his jumper in a stand against racism was a catalyst for social change.

Tayla Harris’ kick sparked a wider discussion about online trolls.

The photo of Carlton and Richmond playing at an empty MCG may well enter the pages of history.

Michael Klein, who took the shot at the coronavirus-disrupted start of the 2020 AFL season, said: “It’s one of those ones you can show your kids and grandkids that was the year when no one in Melbourne could go to the footy”.

2020: An eerie silence. The first bounce of the 2020 AFL season between Richmond and Carlton takes place in March without a crowd because of coronavirus restrictions. Picture: Michael Klein

Klein has been covering sport for 20 of his 34 years as a Herald Sun photographer and said there was always something new to shoot.

The unpredictability was the attraction, he said.

“You never know what’s going to happen. You could be there doing a game of footy on a Saturday afternoon and Scott Pendlebury bounces the ball on a pigeon. You’re there barracking for a picture that’s never been taken before.”

Klein said being in the right place at the right time was the key, along with having a good understanding of the game you’re photographing “and years of years of practise”.

He said it wasn’t only photos of big matches or pivotal moments that made a mark.

“The greatest thing is that each photo is a memory that will mean something to someone. I remember one photo of Cam Guthrie and younger brother Zach celebrating after a game. I know their mum and dad have got it up on the wall at home. Things like that they can keep forever.”

After covering almost every sporting event in Victoria, he said it was hard to choose a favourite shot.

“I hope it’s yet to be taken.”

2016: Fernando Alonso walked away from one of the most horrifying crashes in Albert Park history, completely destroying his car on lap 17 of the Albert Park Grand Prix. Picture: Alex Coppel

1990: Collingwood breaks a 32-year drought to win the 1990 premiership cup, held aloft by captain Tony Shaw. And relegating the Colliwobbles to a distant memory. Picture: Mike Keating

2015: It is one of the most extraordinary things ever caught on film. Aussie surfer Mick Fanning was waiting for a wave at the Jbay Open in South Africa when he was attacked by a shark. He escaped after punching it in the face. Picture: WSL/Getty Images

2017: Collingwood’s Jeremy Howe has become known for his high-flying marks. But this speccy over Melbourne’s Tom McDonald wasn’t even enough to win him Mark of the Year. Picture: Mark Stewart

2014: Got him! Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin takes a spectacular catch to dismiss India’s Cheteshwar Pujara off Ryan Harris on day three of the third Test at the MCG. Picture: Colleen Petch

2004: It was raining Cats and Crows as a young Gary Ablett Jr gave Geelong fans a portent of things to come against Adelaide. Ablett retires a great, just like his father, after yesterday’s Grand Final. Picture: Colleen Petch

1996: Essendon’s James Hird sports a shiner as he wins the Brownlow Medal alongside Brisbane’s Michael Voss. The joint winners would go on to cement their names as greats of the game. Picture: Andrew Tauber

1995: Doubles star Natasha Zvereva enjoyed the wet conditions when Rod Laver Arena was transformed into a virtual swimming pool during the Australian open due to a blocked stormwater drain. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

2004: Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams mocks his detractors who called his side chokers after the Power’s 40-point victory gave the club its first AFL premiership and denied the Brisbane Lions their forth on the trot. Picture: Fiona Hamilton

2019: Tayla Harris’ kicking for goal during a match with the Western Bulldogs should have just been another great sporting shot. By Harris was trolled over the picture and fought back, redefining the conversation around sports, social media and women. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media

2005: Sydney led by four points in the dying seconds of the Grand Final when leaping Leo Barry flew across a pack and pulled in one of the AFL’s most memorable game-saving marks. Picture: Craig Borrow

2003: Scriptwriters couldn’t have conjured this one. North Melbourne skipper Anthony Stevens came head-to-head with ex-skipper Wayne Carey. The on field clash happening after Carey’s return to the game following an affair with Stevens’ wife. Picture: George Salpigtidis

2008: St Kilda’s Clinton Jones manages to hold a chest mark despite the massive impact of a bump from Sydney’s Martin Mattner. The Saints also held on, winning the Round 1 clash by two points. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

2002: Coach Mick Malthouse consoles a distraught Paul Licuria after 91,817 fans saw Collingwood go down to the Brisbane Lions by nine points in the Grand Final. Picture: Michael Dodge

1999: Essendon star Matthew Lloyd just manages a handball in a game against Sydney. Picture: Michael Dodge

2006: West Coast star Chris Mainwaring celebrates with Ben Cousins after the Eagles’ narrow victory over Sydney in the Grand Final. A little more than a year later, Mainwaring died following a drug-related collapse. Cousins contract was torn up and he was banned from the AFL for a year for bringing the game into disrepute. Picture: Michael Klein

2019: Dustin Martin had a monster in the 2019 Grand Final, picking up his second Norm Smith Medal and second premiership medallion with a four goal game that propelled the Tigers to victory over GWS. Picture: Michael Klein.

2000: American swimmer Gary Hall Jr said his team would smash their Australian 4x100m freestyle rivals like guitars. But Ian Thorpe had other ideas, bringing the Aussies home to a gold medal, a world record and a famous celebration with Michael Klim, Chris Fydler and Ashley Callus. Picture: Craig Borrow

2016: The Western Bulldogs snap a 62-year premiership drought by beating the Sydney Swans in the Grand Final. Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy famously misses the game with a knee injury but is presented with coach Luke Beveridge’s premiership medallion on the dais. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

1996: Swans spearhead Tony Lockett is mobbed by fans who invaded the SCG. Lockett kicked more than 100 goals in a season on six occasions. Picture: Jay Town

2005: Surprisingly, no one was seriously hurt after a flock of seagulls spooked the field in the Goldenway Handicap at Sandown. Five jockeys were thrown from their mounts and two ended up in hospital. Picture: Nicole Garmston

2000: Cathy Freeman takes a deep breath and looks skywards before the 400m final at the Sydney Olympics. 49.13 seconds after the starter’s gun, Freeman was a gold medal winner. Picture: David Caird

1993: One of the most iconic images in AFL. St Kilda’s indigenous star Nicky Winmar lets the Magpie fans know his feelings about racial abuse at Collingwood’s Victoria Park by pointing to the colour of his skin. Picture: John Feder

2007: After a season dogged by hamstring problems, Collingwood great Nathan Buckley poses doing a baulk as if he was part of an old footy card series to celebrate his return to the side just before finals. Picture: Michael Dodge

2012: Jockey Glen Boss feels the love from fans at Moonee Valley after his winning ride on Ocean Park in the Cox Plate. Picture: Alex Coppel

2002: Jockey Damian Oliver points to the heavens in tribute to his brother Jason, after winning the Melbourne Cup on Media Puzzle. Jason, also a jockey, died a week earlier after a race fall. Picture: Michael Dodge

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