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.
Anatomy of a grand final heist
Jake Niall Sydney's team of 'no-name' players pulled off a heist of Shakespearean proportions.
AFL
I was whacked three times, says Scotland
Jake Niall Carlton's Heath Scotland talks for the first time about an incident in which he hit a man at a Mulwala pub and had to accept the consequences
AFL
Sore Hawkins not at risk: Scott
Chloe Saltau and Jake Niall Geelong coach Chris Scott insists that time out of the game won't help Tom Hawkins.
AFL
Happy Roughead extends contract
Jake Niall EXCLUSIVE Hawthorn's versatile forward/utility becomes latest Hawk to commit for the long-term.
Judgment day
Jake Niall The Carlton coach's tactics against the Pies will reveal how he views some of his former players.
AFL
Is the game running away from Hawthorn?
Jake Niall Hawks' failure to beat Cats continues distinct pattern from 2012 preliminary and grand finals.
Murphy set to lead Carlton
Jake Niall Carlton expected to name midfield gun Marc Murphy as captain for 2013.
AFL
Unleash the mongrel
Jake Niall Mick Malthouse and his Blues need to be more ruthless if they are to mix it with the game's heavy hitters.
Tigers right to fear false dawns
Jake Niall In 1982, Richmond and Carlton played in a seminal grand final in which the winner confirmed its powerhouse stature, and the loser began 30 years in exile from finals street.
AFL
The problem with Collingwood
Jake Niall Forward pressure and goals - Collingwood needs more of both if it is to go all the way in 2013.
AFL
Best in the nest
Jake Niall Fans may fancy the Hawks, Pies, Swans and Crows, but it's the Eagles who could take flight this season.
Jake Niall
Hawks must prepare for the worst, hope for the best
Jake Niall Lance Franklin's decision on his future will take up a lot of Hawthorn's time and energy.
Officer class, but Riewoldt needs captain in waiting
Jake Niall Modern-day AFL dictates clubs need captains with high credentials, writes Jake Niall.
The feather wait
Jake Niall With the Crows' draft penalties taking time to hurt, where are the more immediate punishments?
Paying the price
Jake Niall Now the shoe's on the other foot and the Hawks are grand final losers, expect a robust response.
The fixture is in
Jake Niall In racing parlance the AFL draw has become a handicap event, a policy that should be turfed.
Blues, Tigers, Bombers set to play twice
Jake Niall But Tigers and Collingwood deprived of their request for two games in 2013.
Silence of the Blues a surprise
Jake Niall If there was a club that seemed made for free agency, it was surely Carlton.
The new deal
Jake Niall The AFL has worked hard to try to even up the competition, but may have to tinker some more.
Hawthorn too Buddy dependent
Jake Niall Lance Franklin was certainly Hawthorn's most potent player in the grand final.
