Jon Pierik
Jon Pierik is a sports writer with The Age, focusing primarily on AFL football, cricket and basketball. He has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.
Salopek quits Port Adelaide
Jon Pierik As Steven Salopek agonised in recent weeks over whether to leave Port Adelaide to test the free-agency market, he was able to put his footballing struggles into perspective.
AFL
Poor clubs raising spectre of EPL
Jon Pierik Former Geelong president Frank Costa fears AFL morphing into soccer's English Premier League.
Waite and Blues fire: Dees hit
Jon Pierik Demons' co-captain Jack Grimes breaks his collarbone in 10-goal loss to Blues.
Hawks hang tough but Rioli injured
Jon Pierik Brilliant small forward hurt in bruising three-point win against North Melbourne.
AFL
Drugs row a wake-up call: Koch
Jon Pierik Port Adelaide president says boards can no longer be run by the ''old boys' network''.
Family man of steel keeps the faith
Jon Pierik Matthew Pavlich is determined to finish what he started at Fremantle.
AFL
AFL concerns about demoralised Demons
Jon Pierik It's not only members and supporters of Melbourne who are worried about their team.
AFL
Lyon slams Dees' lack of courage
Jon Pierik Demons' president Don McLardy laments there's no ''miracle'' cure for the club's woes.
AFL coaches: the class of 2013
Compiled by Rohan Connolly and Jon Pierik Rohan Connolly and Jon Pierik take a look at the men guiding the 18 teams in the AFL fray.
Spending imbalance worries AFLPA
Jon Pierik Players label disparity in spending between power and smaller clubs as ''emerging industrial issue''.
AFL
Saint wary of EPL-like competition
Jon Pierik and Adam Cooper Nick Riewoldt fears two-tiered league unless action taken to ease equalisation concerns.
AFL
Logo, mini-draft on table
Jon Pierik and Caroline Wilson In-season mini-draft, ban on top clubs poaching free agents and possible sale of AFL logo on front of player jumpers options discussed in bid to ease gap between AFL's rich and poor.
AFL
Sylvia looks to be prime mover
Jon Pierik Melbourne co-captain Jack Grimes says midfielder Colin Sylvia has the ability to be 'almost unstoppable'.
Cooney likely for round one
Jon Pierik Bulldogs midfielder expected to be discharged from hospital on Sunday.
Clubs wary on integrity officer plan
Jon Pierik AFL's fight to strengthen integrity measures hits a hurdle.
AFL
Integrity officers 'AFL's job'
Jon Pierik Jimmy Bartel says the AFL would be better off employing more integrity officers rather than having responsibility fall on clubs.
AFL
Saints keen for seat at AFL power clubs' table
Jon Pierik St Kilda president Greg Westaway says it's time to give all clubs a financial ''fair go''.
AFL
Tiger six-pack rates a mention
Jon Pierik If Richmond is looking for evidence it can feature this season in its first finals campaign in more than a decade, this may be it.
Punctual players means less 'froth' from experts
Jon Pierik Heavier penalties for clubs who are late to move into position after intervals.
