Jake Niall on Heath Shaw - 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.

AFL

Magpie Dwyer may be recruit of the year, says Maxwell

Jake Niall and Emma Quayle Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley praises all 22 of his players after win over Geelong.

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

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.

Hawks three times better

Jake Niall On the ladder, Hawthorn and Collingwood were only one game apart. In reality, the distance was several goals.

Swan, Buckley men on different paths

Jake Niall It is clear that Collingwood's past two Brownlow medallists diverge in their approaches to football.

Beams to stay with Pies

Jake Niall Collingwood midfielder has all but agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension.

Comments 10

Roos leap ahead, Blues just a hop away

Jake Niall Carlton and North Melbourne have taken turns at burial and resurrection.

AFL

Pies lock Ball into new deal

Jake Niall Midfielder will become latest contractual domino to fall into place at Collingwood.

Pies survive fright from plucky Eagles

Jake Niall Collingwood has the great racehorse's knack for finding the a way to win.

AFL

Pies maul Cats as Suns shine

Jake Niall Often this season the AFL has seemed to be a two-tiered competition.

No returning to Never Never Land

Jake Niall St Kilda has another lost generation on its hands, but this one has built something.

Hawthorn adapts to life without Buddy

Jake Niall Coach says it shows Hawks have a ''plan B'' in the event of a catastrophic injury.

Easy, Tiger: Cloke on hold

Jake Niall and Jon Pierik Richmond says it believes Travis Cloke will stay with the Magpies.

Prize Pies are flying

Jake Niall Pies expected to confirm adding All-Australian pair Travis Cloke and Dale Thomas and recalled defender Heath Shaw to new leadership group.

Buckley, Neeld hoping practice makes perfect

Jake Niall Collingwood training more like match practice than a real practice match.

Hawks stitch up top guns

Jake Niall Not worried about losing important players to rival clubs in first year of free agency system.

Pies back Krakouer as injured stars improve

Jake Niall, Wangaratta Collingwood will continue to treat forward Andrew Krakouer with caution, saying the priority remains for him to deal with his off-field issues.