Jake Niall

Jake Niall is a senior sports writer at The Age, specialising in AFL football. Jake joined The Age in 1998, having previously worked as a sports writer on The Sunday Age. He writes a blend of news, feature articles and a weekly column during the football season. Before joining The Sunday Age, Jake was a freelance reporter in the US and a regular contributor to The Sunday Age and The Age from Los Angeles, covering diverse areas like politics, earthquakes, celebrity trials and American sport. Jake ghost wrote the autobiography (‘Collingwood and Me’, 1991) of champion Collingwood footballer Peter Daicos. While he writes primarily about the AFL, he spends the month of January covering tennis, especially the Australian Open. In 2008, Jake won the Melbourne Press Club Quill Awards' Best Sports Story in any medium for his profile piece on David Schwarz.

Brett Ratten at the media conference announcing his sacking.

Jake Niall

Doubts meant Blues kept Ratten on P-plates

Jake Niall Carlton never treated Brett Ratten as a long-term coach. Ratten was on probation for his entire five years and six games as senior coach.

We want Cloke, says Judd

Jake Niall Carlton's player leadership group have given the all-clear for the club to pursue Collingwood's powerhouse forward Travis Cloke.

Ramp up the rivalry

Jake Niall Collingwood and Richmond hoping to rebuild their once-storied rivalry.

Identical wins

Jake Niall The Scott twins are their own men, but, as coaches, their influence on their clubs has parallels.

Schwab set to stay on with Demons

Jake Niall Melbourne is set to confirm the reappointment of chief executive Cameron Schwab at the club's board meeting on Monday night.

Hawk predators given hope

Jake Niall A Sunday twilight match between the premiership favourite and a barely competitive expansion team would appear to be the very definition of a game not worth watching.

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Port to update Boak on coach

Jake Niall Port Adelaide will keep Travis Boak in the loop on the coaching appointment, as the club seeks to re-sign the out-of-contract midfielder while searching for Matthew Primus' long-term replacement.

Free agency banking ban hits top clubs

Jake Niall The bottom teams have been handed a significant advantage over the top sides under the free agency system, with the AFL confirming that clubs cannot ''bank'' the draft pick they earn when they lose a...

AFL

Casboult in contract talks with Carlton

Jake Niall Carlton's surprise-packet forward seeks to capitalise on his form by negotiating a two-year deal.

Ex-players to teach honesty on concussion

Jake Niall AFL players to undergo a new education program on the contentious issue of concussion.

The show must go on

Jake Niall Olympic pomp may have turned the AFL chief's head, but, Andrew, while you were gone …

Roos leap ahead, Blues just a hop away

Jake Niall Carlton and North Melbourne have taken turns at burial and resurrection.

Football

Junior star set to quit Suns for Victorian club

Jake Niall Gold Coast Suns youngster Josh Toy is likely to be heading home to Melbourne next year.

Jake Niall

Greatest of all Tigers

Jake Niall Young Richmond star Trent Cotchin is the best of the modern breed.

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Cats aim for night opener at 'new' home

Jake Niall Geelong plans to play first game at rebuilt home under lights in the middle of next season.

Sam I can

Jake Niall He's an enigma in the AFL - too small, too slow they said. So why is Hawk Sam Mitchell so good?

Football

Demons in purgatory

Jake Niall Melbourne takes the radical step of putting contract discussions with 11 players on hold until mid-October, as the club delays decisions on players' futures until it has entered the free agency and...