Jake Niall on Dayne Beams - Real Footy

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.

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

Buckley mum on Elliott-Koschitzke incident

Jake Niall Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has declined to be drawn on the incident in which his small forward Jamie Elliott was collected by Justin Koschitzke.

AFL

Collingwood re-signs Elliott, Witts

Jake Niall In a major display of faith, Collingwood has re-signed ruckman Jarrod Witts on a three year contract before he has been selected for a senior game.

Judgment day

Jake Niall The Carlton coach's tactics against the Pies will reveal how he views some of his former players.

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.

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.

Daisy digs deep and comes up smelling of roses

Jake Niall Dale Thomas hasn't had a flash season. Not given to overstatement, Thomas called his mediocre qualifying final effort against Hawthorn a ''shocker'' and at half-time last night he was still stuck on...