About Stephen Rielly
About Stephen Rielly
A two-time AFL feature writer of the year (1995/1996) and winner of the AFL news reporter of the year award and the Alf Brown Trophy for overall excellence in 2005, Rielly has written about football for The Age for more than a decade. Rielly was recognised by the Australian Football Media Association for a season of excellence two years ago, including an article detailing the split between old friends, then St Kilda coach Grant Thomas and president Rod Butterss. Rielly has an acute understanding of the tactics of the game and his other sporting passion is surfing. He considers the annual Rip Curl Pro surfing contest at Bells Beach to be one of the treasures on the Australian sporting calendar.
Ablett's 'return' a mystery
It was cause for a city, for a football club, to rise to excitement but nothing more, it seems.
Roos' survival plan to follow Saints strategy
One of the central planks of James Brayshaw's survival plan for the Kangaroos will be the adoption of the unique business strategy that enabled the former St Kilda administration of Rod Butterss to post million-dollar profits for many of its years in power.
Fremantle gamble indicates thin draft
It will be years, as many as five, before questions about the 2007 national draft are answered and yet judgements, it seems, were passed even before it began.
All is not rosy in relationship between key Dogs
Bulldog chief executive Campbell Rose is taking a closer look at the club's football department.
Challenges in tapping the draft
A first-round pick is not always an ailing club's soothing ale.
Hahn re-signs with Dogs, Brennan move looking likely
Western Bulldog midfielder Mitch Hahn has ended weeks of uncertainty about his future by agreeing to a new three-year contract, a commitment Brisbane's Jared Brennan seems increasingly unlikely to make to the Lions.
McMahon picks Tigers over Port
Richmond last night put Jordan McMahon into a yellow and black jumper, with the Western Bulldog defender choosing the Tigers over Port Adelaide for a three-year deal worth almost $1 million.
Saints move for ruckman Blake
St Kilda has offered a three-year contract to Geelong's Mark Blake that, financially, is likely to be beyond the premiers to match.
In-demand Jolly sticks with Swans
Darren Jolly, the most experienced and decorated member of the band of ruckmen thought likely to shape much of this year's trading period, has removed himself from the deal-making fray, which officially begins today.
Dogs miss out as Robertson re-signs with Demons
Russell Robertson has ended his contractual stand-off with Melbourne and agreed to a new two-year contract.
Faster pussycats
In 2007, football embraced the idea that audacity breeds life where order breeds habit.
Power's pride becomes a sore point
Port Adelaide revels in history like a lotto winner in a spa of champagne and yet by half-time yesterday it was looking to run from it, trying to stave off the worst grand final loss of all time.
Whiff of feud puts Judd off Saints
The deepening threat of instability at St Kilda appears to have dashed any hope of the Saints securing Chris Judd.
Carlton reaps the rewards of a determined ineptitude
In the end, the Blues lost but they won, Melbourne won but it lost, and football just lost.
Bulldog, Lion may hang up their boots
Chris Grant and Chris Scott could join the extraordinary exodus of
champions from football at the end of this season.
Sheedy's year too far
Ending the coach's tenure in 2006 would have been a better option for several reasons.
Kangas fall short of their goals
Goalkicking under pressure is the difference between the Roos and the team they seek to emulate - West Coast.
Thinking the unthinkable
On Monday night, nine Essendon directors confirmed that this was to
be Kevin Sheedy's last season as coach.
Essendon mindful of honouring Sheedy
The decision to replace Sheedy as coach has been made. How he exits is now being debated.
Time heals, but it's victory that settles all for Demons
A tough week at Melbourne Football Club ends with the winds of change starting to settle and a first-up victory for the new coach.
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