Jake Niall on People - Real Footy - canberratimes.com.au

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

Football's real life soap opera

Jake Niall Chris Judd can see his storied past - and his role in what he calls football's 'soap opera' - more clearly than his post-football future.

AFL

AFL to pay for Dees' changes

Jake Niall The AFL has confirmed it will fund Melbourne's major overhaul in the wake of the resignation of club president Don McLardy.

AFL

Stop tinkering: Judd

Jake Niall Dual Brownlow medallist Chris Judd says the AFL's new rule interpretations have made it far harder for players to play ''instinctive'' footy, adding there is excessive tinkering with the rules.

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AFL

AFL to pay for Dees' changes

Jake Niall Company confirms it will fund club's major overhaul in the wake of club president Don McLardy's resignation.

AFL

Tall forwards are finding speed a killer

Jake Niall Carlton's worst loss of 2013 came when it played three ruckmen/forwards against the straggling Saints in round seven.

AFL

Dons do the improbable

Jake Niall Carlton-Essendon games have a knack for the unexpected, for comebacks, upsets and stunning individual performances. This one, which had seemed headed for an unexceptional outcome, was no exception.

AFL

Melbourne's choice

Jake Niall Melbourne did the right thing in sticking with Neeld. Now it must run the ruler over the entire club.

AFL

Tippett set to step straight in for Swans

Jake Niall Sydney coach confirms Kurt Tippett is 'a strong chance' to go straight into the senior team.

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Plenty to beam about on night of nights

Jake Niall The locals in Geelong weren't expecting a Close Encounter of any kind.

AFL

Taylor, Cats closer to a new deal

Jake Niall Talks between Geelong and Harry Taylor's management moving in a positive direction.

AFL

Blues stars return for Dons clash

Jake Niall Carlton is set to field one of its strongest teams of the season for Friday night's massive game against a similarly fit Essendon.

It wasn't about me: Ablett

Jake Niall Gary Ablett downplays the significance of his homecoming, expressing disappointment that the Suns faded.

AFL

AFL to play no part in Giants' bid for Franklin

Jake Niall Hawthorn confirms AFL boss told club league would not lure Lance Franklin to GWS.

The Lance chance

Jake Niall The Hawks could buy two quality midfielders for what the esteemed Buddy Franklin costs them.

AFL

Dogs 'can make a profit'

Jake Niall Bulldogs say they can still break even or make a profit this year, despite spending an extra $1.2m on their football department in a difficult season on the field.

Magpies' joy tempered by setbacks

Jake Niall Collingwood's gritty come-from-behind upset of Geelong has been tempered by an apparent setback for injured gun midfielder Dayne Beams and a report on ruckman Darren Jolly for a high bump.

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