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 problem with Collingwood
Jake Niall Forward pressure and goals - Collingwood needs more of both if it is to go all the way in 2013.
Up to eight new Demons for opening round
Jake Niall Melbourne's massive turnover will see the Demons field a radically revamped team for round one.
Silence of the Blues a surprise
Jake Niall If there was a club that seemed made for free agency, it was surely Carlton.
Demon Gysberts emerges as possible solution to Pederson trade
Jake Niall North Melbourne has shown an interest in Melbourne midfielder Jordan Gysberts as a potential solution to the impasse in getting key position player Cameron Pederson to the Demons.
Frenzy was all tip and very little iceberg
Jake Niall How many of the players who've just changed clubs represent big deals?
The new deal
Jake Niall The AFL has worked hard to try to even up the competition, but may have to tinker some more.
AFL
Swans firm for Tippett: rivals
Jon Pierik and Jake Niall Swans appear to be the front-runners for the Adelaide forward's services.
AFL
Hawks and Pies in a fight for Young love
Jake Niall Clinton Young faces a choice between remaining at Hawthorn or joining Collingwood.
Port, Collingwood vie for Young's attention
Jake Niall Port Adelaide joins Collingwood in the contest for Hawthorn's Clinton Young.
AFL
Adelaide checks out White
Emma Quayle and Jake Niall Sydney forward Jesse White has flown to Adelaide for a medical screening and looms as a possible cog in the Kurt Tippett trade, which should unfold in the next few days.
The big issue: who can back up Jolly?
Jake Niall It will become the selection question of preliminary final week should Chris Dawes lose his battle of wounded knee: Who replaces him and supports Darren Jolly?
AFL
Plan B for the Pies if Dawes is out
Jake Niall In the event that Chris Dawes is unable play on Friday night, replacing him will be the Collingwood match committee's most vexing question.
Magpies consider young Giant for ruck role
Jake Niall and Michael Gleeson Mindful of the burden on the ageing shoulders of veteran premiership ruck Darren Jolly, Collingwood has shown interest in out of contract Giant Jonathan Giles.
Hitouts to the Max
Jake Niall Since Leigh Brown retired, Collingwood has struggled with second ruck/forward role.
Featherweights?
Jake Niall As the season has progressed, the Hawks have moved ahead of the Magpies. Here's why.
Hawks three times better
Jake Niall On the ladder, Hawthorn and Collingwood were only one game apart. In reality, the distance was several goals.
AFL
What's a player worth? Just give the AFL a call
Jake Niall Clubs that lose a player to free agency will be able to get an 'indication' of their draft compensation before they decide to match the offer.
AFL
Backs to the wall, Pies will play it for J-Mac
Jared Lynch and Jake Niall West Coast midfielder Andrew Gaff is expecting the Pies to be at their most formidable in Saturday night's semi-final.
Roos leap ahead, Blues just a hop away
Jake Niall Carlton and North Melbourne have taken turns at burial and resurrection.
Football
Cats throw debutants into the fire
Jake Niall There's a sense that tomorrow's Geelong-Collingwood clash is no grand final rematch.
