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About Jake Niall
About Jake Niall
Jake Niall is a senior sports writer at The Age, specialising in AFL football. He joined The Age in 1998, having previously worked as a sports writer on The Sunday Age. He writes a compelling blend of news, feature articles and regular columns during the football season. Niall has also worked as a freelance reporter in the United States and was a regular contributor to The Age from Los Angeles, covering diverse areas like politics, earthquakes, celebrity trials and American sport. Jake ghost wrote the autobiography (Collingwood and Me) of champion Collingwood footballer Peter Daicos.
O'Keefe well placed despite swap failure
Carlton, fresh from snaring Warnock, hopes to pick up gun Swan in pre-season draft.
The great footy stock crash
In a "bear" player market, draft picks are being seen as the way
for a club to become a "bull".
Success may have been Cats' downfall
In due course, the Cats will complete an inquest into what caused a hitherto dominant team to falter on the defining day.
What we learnt from the final
The match contained many themes that could be portents of change.
Triumphant Hawks to lock in stars
Shane Crawford's decision on whether to continue his 305-game career remains the only major question surrounding Hawthorn's highly-advanced preparations for 2009, with grand final hero Stuart Dew and defender Brent Guerra having had discussions about new contracts.
Hodge's quarterback act the winning edge
Luke Hodge's defence gave Hawthorn plenty of attack.
All hail, the Hawks' football tsar
A canny AFL administrator once observed that the success of a
football club was in "inverse proportion to the number of
ex-players on the club's board".
Bit of biff not in Hawks' interests
It's always a danger for a young side in a grand final. They're underdogs, there's some nerves and the insane build-up has them feeling liked caged animals by game day.
Saints need leap of recruiting faith
St Kilda must keep the long-term picture in mind as it licks its wounds.
Johnno grasping the moment
Brad Johnson knows that rare opportunities just have to be taken.
Grand final fairytale
Imagine there's no Geelong. It's easy if you try. No Hawthorn below
them, and the grand final is played between the Western Bulldogs
and St Kilda.
Purists versus romantics
For the footy purists, Geelong v Hawthorn is the preferred grand final. It not only would be a contest between the two best teams of this year, but it shapes as that classical sport match-up: the established champion and the precocious challenger.
Riewoldt, Hodge must be the No. 1 priorities
As the No. 1 draft picks in 2000 and 2001 respectively, Nick Riewoldt and Luke Hodge have borne considerable burdens for their clubs.
Modest Thompson deserves credit
Coach Mark Thompson downplays his own importance in the Cats' rise.
'Weakest link' no more, Harry shows he's tailor-made
Harry Taylor had been the weakest link. He was the one the opposition always sought to exploit, the only Geelong defender light on for experience and performance.
Buckley may have to leap early
In 12 months, Nathan Buckley could find himself grappling with the Voss scenario, with a club, or clubs, asking him whether he's prepared to coach without an apprenticeship.
Local boy was Shaw thing from the beginning
Legendary status far outweighs inexperience for the Brisbane Lions
when choosing Michael Voss as coach.
Swan solution - find brilliant youngsters
Carlton's brave efforts can point the way to a team that fans will love.
New board puts cash into Dees
Melbourne's new board has already contributed more than $500,000 in individual donations as part of the club's fight to eradicate debt and ensure its survival.
Find Geelong's "Ingredient X" and bottle it
Patience? Luck? Genetics? What lies at the heart of Geelong's domination?
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