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.
Taking their chance
Jake Niall It's not just crowds, but also clubs that have come a long way in embracing indigenous players.
AFL
Happy Roughead extends contract
Jake Niall EXCLUSIVE Hawthorn's versatile forward/utility becomes latest Hawk to commit for the long-term.
Only Buddy offer is from Hawks
Jake Niall Hawthorn remains the only club to have made Lance Franklin a contract offer for 2014 and beyond.
AFL
Home a big lure for Franklin: Pie
Jake Niall EXCLUSIVE Collingwood forward says that ''Buddy'' should only do ''what's best for him''.
AFL
Trials to show how far Hawks have grown
Jake Niall Hawthorn can prove itself a strong organisation by recovering for the 2013 season, according to club president Andrew Newbold.
AFL
From steeplechase to the ruck: Cats eye Blicavs for round one
Jake Niall Geelong says injuries and the lack of conditioning for all recognised rucks could force it to play Mark Blicavs - the 198 centimetre convert from athletics who took up football last year after...
Jake Niall
Hawks must prepare for the worst, hope for the best
Jake Niall Lance Franklin's decision on his future will take up a lot of Hawthorn's time and energy.
Football
Buddy signs with Hawks' new sponsor
Jake Niall Lance Franklin has left Nike, his long-time sponsor, to sign with Hawthorn's new partner Adidas.
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.
AFL
Spoiling the spoiler: The Swans' big task
Jake Niall Josh Gibson is always a fistful, and Sydney needs a plan.
What the clubs talk, the Bloods walk
Jake Niall The mysterious Swans culture has become like Colonel Sanders' herbs and spices.
Hawthorn too Buddy dependent
Jake Niall Lance Franklin was certainly Hawthorn's most potent player in the grand final.
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.
The pain game
Jake Niall As football continues to evolve it's vital that rules change in order to protect players from serious injury.
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?
Football
Faster umpire throw-ins save time
Jake Niall The AFL tells clubs that concern about the lengthening of quarters led it to speed up boundary throw-ins this season.
