Jake Niall | The Sydney Morning Herald

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Jake Niall is a Walkley award-winning sports journalist and chief AFL writer for The Age.

‘I didn’t know what high performance was’: What Judd taught Cripps
Exclusive
AFL 2024

‘I didn’t know what high performance was’: What Judd taught Cripps

A mad Eagles supporter growing up in WA, Patrick Cripps was eager to learn from AFL great Chris Judd when he was drafted to Carlton. But the respect and admiration soon flowed both ways, as the pair told The Age.

  • by Jake Niall

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All-Australian on Carlton’s radar; High-performance boss to depart
Updated
AFL 2024

All-Australian on Carlton’s radar; High-performance boss to depart

Carlton have met with a veteran Greater Western Sydney defender, who is out of contract and likely to leave the Giants.

  • by Jake Niall, Peter Ryan and Marc McGowan
Without Dusty, Tigers would not have that glorious treble of flags
Analysis
AFL 2024

Without Dusty, Tigers would not have that glorious treble of flags

Careers were made and unmade by Dustin Martin’s astonishing combination of brute power and his genius as an architect with the ball in his hands.

  • by Jake Niall
The allegations at the heart of the Hawks’ racism case
Updated
AFL 2024

The allegations at the heart of the Hawks’ racism case

When Hawthorn First Nations players threatened a boycott, Alastair Clarkson reached for his guitar, court claim alleges.

  • by Jake Niall and Peter Ryan
Pies ‘guarantee’ Kelly’s job, won’t pay ‘hundreds of thousands’

Pies ‘guarantee’ Kelly’s job, won’t pay ‘hundreds of thousands’

Collingwood guarantee the position of Craig Kelly until the court action instigated by a former employee, who alleges racially inappropriate language and conduct by the chief executive, has been completed.

  • by Jake Niall
How does Scott Pendlebury stop time?

How does Scott Pendlebury stop time?

We explored the Collingwood veteran’s Matrix-like manoeuvres in this Explainer from 2019. Five years later, the now 36-year-old, on the cusp of his 400th AFL match, is still defying the passage of time.

  • by Jake Niall
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Why Pies champion Pendlebury is on verge of rare milestone; Blues to face no further action on McKay

Why Pies champion Pendlebury is on verge of rare milestone; Blues to face no further action on McKay

Scott Pendlebury’s appetite for success remains as strong as ever as he prepares for game 400, the Collingwood star declaring “I’ll use the rule book to my advantage if I have to”, while the AFL will take no further action over Carlton’s handling of Harry McKay after a head knock.

  • by Peter Ryan and Jake Niall
Grumpy coach? How Sam Mitchell’s caring side brings the best out of Mabior Chol

Grumpy coach? How Sam Mitchell’s caring side brings the best out of Mabior Chol

Meet the player who spent the first six years of his AFL career perennially behind forwards Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch at Richmond.

  • by Jake Niall
The moment the room went quiet: Inside the meeting of some of the AFL’s most powerful figures

The moment the room went quiet: Inside the meeting of some of the AFL’s most powerful figures

All 18 AFL club chiefs gathered in Perth for a crucial meeting with league bosses as the season nears its conclusion. Their agenda included some of the game’s biggest issues.

  • by Peter Ryan and Jake Niall
How Essendon could benefit from the rule that gave Jamarra to the Dogs; three-match bans stand for Cameron, Bedford
AFL Briefing
AFL 2024

How Essendon could benefit from the rule that gave Jamarra to the Dogs; three-match bans stand for Cameron, Bedford

Charlie Cameron and Toby Bedford have both failed in their bids to overturn three-match bans for rough conduct, while Essendon could benefit from a rule tweak come draft time.

  • by Jake Niall and Peter Ryan
Wright or wrong: Bomber best and fairest could be dropped

Wright or wrong: Bomber best and fairest could be dropped

Essendon are a chance to drop key forward and 2022 best and fairest Peter Wright for Friday night’s crucial game against Adelaide, as the Bombers deal with team balance issues.

  • by Jake Niall