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
Happy Roughead extends contract
Jake Niall EXCLUSIVE Hawthorn's versatile forward/utility becomes latest Hawk to commit for the long-term.
AFL
Best in the nest
Jake Niall Fans may fancy the Hawks, Pies, Swans and Crows, but it's the Eagles who could take flight this season.
Paying the price
Jake Niall Now the shoe's on the other foot and the Hawks are grand final losers, expect a robust response.
Why the Dees alone are facing probe
Jake Niall There are three factors that compel the AFL to investigate the allegations of tanking.
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.
Hawthorn too Buddy dependent
Jake Niall Lance Franklin was certainly Hawthorn's most potent player in the grand final.
Hitouts to the Max
Jake Niall Since Leigh Brown retired, Collingwood has struggled with second ruck/forward role.
Hawks three times better
Jake Niall On the ladder, Hawthorn and Collingwood were only one game apart. In reality, the distance was several goals.
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.
Cats win No. 9 after bell
Jake Niall GEELONG and Hawthorn's rivalry has been the game's most compelling for some years, but this latest instalment has taken not only their competition but AFL football to unprecedented heights.
Cats win no.9 after the bell
Jake Niall Geelong and Hawthorn’s rivalry has been the game’s most compelling for some years, but this latest installment has taken not only their competition, but AFL football to unprecedented heights.
An uphill battle
Jake Niall David Hille's suitors face a tough job prising him away from the Bombers, reports Jake Niall.
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?
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.
Hungry Hawks bury Dons
Jake Niall After Richmond put them to the sword, questions were asked about the mettle of the Hawks.
Hawks stitch up top guns
Jake Niall Not worried about losing important players to rival clubs in first year of free agency system.
Jake Niall
Back and forward
Jake Niall Chris Judd drives Carlton but Jarrad Waite and Michael Jamison are also vital for finals glory.
Why brown and gold is the new black
Jake Niall Hawthorn has players coming back from injury and is well placed to be the 2012 premier.
AFL
It's tough at the top
Jake Niall Injury concerns are dogging the leading premiership contenders. Hawthorn has joined the club with Max Bailey's wrist problem.
