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.
AFL
The least shall be first
Jake Niall Favourite son or long-apprenticed assistant coach, who would you want your club to select?
Protected species
Jake Niall After the most stirring of wins over Fremantle, James Hird has bought himself more time.
AFL
Is the game running away from Hawthorn?
Jake Niall Hawks' failure to beat Cats continues distinct pattern from 2012 preliminary and grand finals.
Only Buddy offer is from Hawks
Jake Niall Hawthorn remains the only club to have made Lance Franklin a contract offer for 2014 and beyond.
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.
Silence of the Blues a surprise
Jake Niall If there was a club that seemed made for free agency, it was surely Carlton.
Anatomy of a grand final heist
Jake Niall Sydney's team of 'no-name' players pulled off a heist of Shakespearean proportions.
Football
Crucial move makes Rioli a trump card
Jake Niall Cyril Rioli was 'buggered' in the last quarter, when Alastair Clarkson made the game's most telling move, shifting the electric Cyril deeper into attack, where his jolts revived a flatlining team.
Hawks wait on Dunstall
Jake Niall HAWTHORN has asked board member Jason Dunstall to continue to perform the same role when the club great and media commentator steps down from the board late next year.
Jake Niall
Clarko's life on the edge
Jake Niall Coaching at Hawthorn under Jeff Kennett wasn't always easy for Alastair Clarkson.
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.
Hawks in pole position
Jake Niall For the Hawks, their final home-and-away game of 2012 delivered what they wanted.
From princes to frogs
Jake Niall After the 2001 grand final defeat, the Essendon fairytale turned into a 10-year spell of mediocrity.
Football
Tigers and Hawks kiss VFL break goodbye
Jake Niall Richmond and Hawthorn have organised a 'scratch match' for their reserves today.
Football
Being Buddy
Jake Niall Lance Franklin's impact on the game continues to grow, but who is he and what shaped the AFL superstar?
The more things change...
Jake Niall Sacking the coach rarely gives clubs the immediate reward they are looking for. Take note, Blues.
Jake Niall
Schoenmakers gets to have the final say
Jake Niall Ryan Schoenmakers is treading a well-worn, if bumpy path, to a successful football career.
Bombers losing grip on finals
Emma Quayle and Jake Niall Essendon's grip on the top-eight spot it has held all season becomes shakier.
