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.

Players led rise: Scott

Jake Niall North Melbourne coach praises club's conditioning staff for good run with injury.

Football

Cats throw debutants into the fire

Jake Niall There's a sense that tomorrow's Geelong-Collingwood clash is no grand final rematch.

The write stuff

Jake Niall So you want to be an AFL footballer? Perhaps there's a few things young men should be told first.

The real deal

Jake Niall It's wasn't the deal of the decade, but it is one that keeps on giving.

Football

Faster umpire throw-ins save time

Jake Niall The AFL tells clubs that concern about the lengthening of quarters led it to speed up boundary throw-ins this season.

Football

League concerned over player poaching

Jake Niall The AFL expresses concern about the possible erosion of football's culture in which players do not reveal they are heading to another club until the season is ended.

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Rowe on track for Carlton

Jake Niall Tall forward, who had a tumour removed just before Easter, has completed chemotherapy.

Pies survive fright from plucky Eagles

Jake Niall Collingwood has the great racehorse's knack for finding the a way to win.

Playing catch up

Jake Niall How do minnows such as North and Port match the AFL's well-nurtured barracudas?

AFL

Why players don't strike out

Jake Niall On at least two occasions, the AFL has been forced to respond to rumours about well-known players recording a third positive test to illicit drugs, the supposed ''third strike''.

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Jake Niall

Ablett's only win in 2012 may be a Brownlow

Jake Niall No footballer has ever won the Brownlow Medal in a team that hasn't won a single game.

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Cats 'compo' pick crucial to Boak deal

Jake Niall There is a way for Travis Boak to become a Cat should he leave Port and ask to be traded to Geelong.

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Bulldogs push for Templeton fame

Jake Niall Western Bulldogs push for Kelvin Templeton to be included in AFL Hall of Fame.

The fame game

Jake Niall The politics of Hall of Fame induction could well mean if there's no advocate, there's no invite.

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Judd's good bye

Jake Niall Blues champion Chris Judd will benefit from next week's bye, writes Jake Niall.

An uphill battle

Jake Niall David Hille's suitors face a tough job prising him away from the Bombers, reports Jake Niall.

AFL

High hopes for forwards Patton, Cameron

Jake Niall Kevin Sheedy is hopeful that Jonathon Patton and Jeremy Cameron can be GWS' answer to Essendon duo Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas.

AFL

Sheedy wants rules to clear stoppages

Jake Niall Kevin Sheedy calls for rules to clear out the congestion at stoppages, rather than changing to a two substitute, two interchange system that he contends would present an enormous challenge for the...