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About Jake Niall
About Jake Niall
Jake Niall is a senior sports writer at The Age, specialising in AFL football. He joined The Age in 1998, having previously worked as a sports writer on The Sunday Age. He writes a compelling blend of news, feature articles and regular columns during the football season. Niall has also worked as a freelance reporter in the United States and was a regular contributor to The Age from Los Angeles, covering diverse areas like politics, earthquakes, celebrity trials and American sport. Jake ghost wrote the autobiography (Collingwood and Me) of champion Collingwood footballer Peter Daicos.
The Kevins have Tigers' board by the tail
Kevin Sheedy and Richmond are high-school sweethearts who never
managed to get the timing right as adults.
Clubs need more than a high profile coach
North Melbourne should only offer the coaching position to Nathan Buckley if it believes he is the best coach available.
Hawthorn's title defence looks like it has hit the wall
The Hawks should prepare now for a run at next year's flag.
Taming of the rat pack
If they weren't worse than several other clubs, Collingwood's indiscretions certainly attracted more headlines; this was due, not only to the profile of the club, but of the names involved.
Bombers fire up for tribal warfare
Beating up old rivals is all right with Essendon, just ask the
fans.
Planning for a Melbourne revival
The Demons are planning for their moment in the sun. Jake Niall gets an inside view.
More ripples in the AFL coaching pond
Terry Wallace was a mercy killing; Dean Laidley, keen to avoid the same unpleasant end game, read the play and walked.
Hawthorn dragged back to Earth with a thump
If Hawthorn did not have the prefix "reigning premier" attached to its name, it would be viewed as a middle-of-the-road team that, with slightly better fortune, should find a spot in the eight's lower reaches.
Riewoldt - king of the forwards
Nick Riewoldt is now the game's most damaging key forward.
Dick gets help from 'the boys'
Brad Dick became uncharacteristically downcast last year when he was recovering from a knee reconstruction.
Power forwards are a scarce commodity
High draft picks and father-son selections take away the main choices.
Richmond's game plan was no plan at all
The recruiters must share the blame for the botched execution of list choices.
Johnson the star act in a team of entertainers
The Stevie Show rated close to a 10 - from the opposition coach!
Playing wait and see on coaches
Clubs shouldn't rush into decisions on whether to keep their coaches.
Muston earns unique place in Hawthorn history
When he was a teenager with two sound knees, some likened his explosive style to Chris Judd.
Cats get benefit of the doubt
Geelong held on to Steve Johnson, and picked up Joel Selwood, after opposition clubs were put off the stars by adverse medical reports.
Thompson keeps the Cats purring
About the only person at Geelong not receiving any accolades is the
coach.
League threatens to move grand final
The AFL has threatened to shift the grand final from the MCG to Sydney after its agreement with the MCG expires in 2032.
Malthouse now needs to play his cards with care
The coach is making no excuses about his forward line that has gone missing.
Harvey's sad timing
The new-look Saints will always be indebted to the midfield maestro.
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