Jake Niall on Nick Riewoldt - 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.

In focus: Stephen Milne at St Kilda training on Wednesday.

St Kilda looked at Milne playing next year

Jake Niall St Kilda had discussed the possibility of Stephen Milne playing on in 2014 with both the player and his management prior to him being charged with rape.

AFL

Tall forwards are finding speed a killer

Jake Niall Carlton's worst loss of 2013 came when it played three ruckmen/forwards against the straggling Saints in round seven.

AFL

Why the Saints need Dal Santo

Jake Niall Nick Dal Santo has always been a player whom opposition clubs watched closely.

Comments 3

Buckley's big gambles produce mixed results

Jake Niall Coach's roulette spins weren't as costly as they threatened to become.

The end of an error?

Jake Niall Forget ''narcotic correctness'' the AFL must find a simpler way to tackle its most pressing problem.

Officer class, but Riewoldt needs captain in waiting

Jake Niall Modern-day AFL dictates clubs need captains with high credentials, writes Jake Niall.

Bombers in chase for Goddard

Jake Niall Essendon well-positioned to snare the All-Australian if he opts to leave the Saints.

Comments 19

Playing catch up

Jake Niall How do minnows such as North and Port match the AFL's well-nurtured barracudas?

Saints in talks with Montagna over contract

Jake Niall St Kilda is in discussions with All-Australian midfielder Leigh Montagna about a two-year contract extension in a bid to keep him from coming into play as an unrestricted free agent.

Demons' recruiters beaten by the press

Jake Niall On the weekend, Melbourne was 108 points adrift of a powerful Eagles team. In 2008, the margin was only one game.

Welcome back, Lenny

Jake Niall When Lenny Hayes had a knee reconstruction about this time last year, St Kilda people may not have said it, but the thought bubble that formed instantly was almost universal: That's our season.