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Jake Niall

Jake Niall

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

Charlie Cameron celebrates a goal in the Lions’ victory over Hawthorn.

Finals have almost arrived. These are the weaknesses that could expose the top eight

Finals-like pressure exposed the strengths and weaknesses of several teams in the final round of the season. What comes next for the top eight teams will expose the pretenders.

  • Jake Niall

Latest

Under-siege Adelaide star Izak Rankine.

Lawyer up and fight them on the benches: The inside story of the Izak Rankine case

The AFL offered a five-match ban that, to Adelaide’s chagrin, soon became public knowledge. The club’s submission to have Rankine’s ban reduced included two key arguments.

  • Jake Niall
Sharon McCrohan has taken the senior media role at the AFL.

AFL appoints former Labor spinner as media supremo; Freo spy booted from Dogs training

A former heavyhitter of the Victorian Labor Party has a new job at the AFL. Spy games are afoot at Whitten Oval ahead of the must-win clash between the Dockers and Bulldogs, and Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has spoken about the ban imposed on his star playmaker Izak Rankine.

  • Jake Niall
Izak Rankine has been suspended for making a homophobic slur.

‘Compelling’ medical evidence behind Rankine’s reduced ban

Rankine was initially offered a five-match ban. However, the Crows fought for three matches and included an expert submission on the player’s mental health.

  • Peter Ryan, Sam McClure and Jake Niall
Izak Rankine celebrates a huge goal in the second quarter of their thriller against Collingwood.

Rankine called Pie to apologise after alleged homophobic insult, Crows await fate

The AFL is expected to hand down its finding in the coming days, with the Crows bracing themselves to be without Rankine for multiple matches if the allegation is proven as they push for their first premiership since 1998.

  • Peter Ryan, Jake Niall and Hannah Kennelly
AFL.

Ex-AFL player tested positive for performance enhancing substance under AFL anti-doping regime

The player has been provisionally suspended during 2025.

  • Jake Niall
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Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin and captain Max Gawn lift the premiership cup last year.

‘Amazing how fast you move on’: Gawn on the brutal reality of Goodwin’s sacking

The Demons captain already has an eye to the future after his coach of the past nine years was axed this week.

  • Danny Russell and Jake Niall
Simon Goodwin was not helped by internal divisions.

I was in the euphoric rooms after Melbourne’s drought-breaking flag. Here’s how Goodwin came undone

The Melbourne coach was damned by internal divisions and cultural issues at the club.

  • Jake Niall
President Brad Green is expected to be on a panel that chooses the next coach.

Melbourne’s first phone call must be to this man, ex-coach says

The contenders to replace Simon Goodwin, who was dumped as Melbourne coach after nine seasons at the helm.

  • Jake Niall, Andrew Wu and Jon Pierik
The Blues have a decision to make when it comes to Michael Voss.

Why the Voss call is easier for Carlton than the Goodwin call for Melbourne

Despite the shared problems and superficially similar situations, there’s a clear difference in the nature of the coaching calls that the Blues and Demons confront.

  • Jake Niall