menu_open Columnists
Jake Niall

Jake Niall

Brisbane Times

We use cookies to provide some features and experiences in QOSHE

More information  .  Close

Essendon should consider stripping Merrett of the captaincy ... if they keep him

Essendon should consider stripping Merrett of the captaincy ... if they keep him

It’s difficult to be a leader at a club you don’t believe in. The Bombers’ choice is between trading their best player, or retaining one whose...

yesterday 8

WA Today

Jake Niall

Essendon should consider stripping Merrett of the captaincy ... if they keep him

Essendon should consider stripping Merrett of the captaincy ... if they keep him

It’s difficult to be a leader at a club you don’t believe in. The Bombers’ choice is between trading their best player, or retaining one whose...

yesterday 9

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

Essendon should consider stripping Merrett of the captaincy ... if they keep him

Essendon should consider stripping Merrett of the captaincy ... if they keep him

It’s difficult to be a leader at a club you don’t believe in. The Bombers’ choice is between trading their best player, or retaining one whose...

yesterday 10

The Age

Jake Niall

Essendon should consider stripping Merrett of the captaincy ... if they keep him

Essendon should consider stripping Merrett of the captaincy ... if they keep him

It’s difficult to be a leader at a club you don’t believe in. The Bombers’ choice is between trading their best player, or retaining one whose...

yesterday 10

Brisbane Times

Jake Niall

Holmes and hosed? Geelong earn pole position on the finals grid

Holmes and hosed? Geelong earn pole position on the finals grid

But for the extraordinary double-goal to Cam Rayner – the result of over-zealous umpiring and Rayner’s talent for falling over – the Cats would...

05.09.2025 10

WA Today

Jake Niall

Holmes and hosed? Geelong earn pole position on the finals grid

Holmes and hosed? Geelong earn pole position on the finals grid

But for the extraordinary double-goal to Cam Rayner – the result of over-zealous umpiring and Rayner’s talent for falling over – the Cats would...

05.09.2025 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

Holmes and hosed? Geelong earn pole position on the finals grid

Holmes and hosed? Geelong earn pole position on the finals grid

But for the extraordinary double-goal to Cam Rayner – the result of over-zealous umpiring and Rayner’s talent for falling over – the Cats would...

05.09.2025 20

The Age

Jake Niall

Holmes and hosed? Geelong earn pole position on the finals grid

Holmes and hosed? Geelong earn pole position on the finals grid

But for the extraordinary double-goal to Cam Rayner – the result of over-zealous umpiring and Rayner’s talent for falling over – the Cats would...

05.09.2025 7

Brisbane Times

Jake Niall

Silvagni, De Koning and ‘Saint-flation’: How St Kilda became the AFL’s disruptors

Silvagni, De Koning and ‘Saint-flation’: How St Kilda became the AFL’s disruptors

A quarter of a century after they landed Fraser Gehrig and Aaron Hamill, the Saints have reprised their role as a disruptor, and this time, the...

03.09.2025 7

WA Today

Jake Niall

Silvagni, De Koning and ‘Saint-flation’: How St Kilda became the AFL’s disruptors

Silvagni, De Koning and ‘Saint-flation’: How St Kilda became the AFL’s disruptors

A quarter of a century after they landed Fraser Gehrig and Aaron Hamill, the Saints have reprised their role as a disruptor, and this time, the...

03.09.2025 5

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

Silvagni, De Koning and ‘Saint-flation’: How St Kilda became the AFL’s disruptors

Silvagni, De Koning and ‘Saint-flation’: How St Kilda became the AFL’s disruptors

A quarter of a century after they landed Fraser Gehrig and Aaron Hamill, the Saints have reprised their role as a disruptor, and this time, the...

03.09.2025 5

The Age

Jake Niall

Silvagni, De Koning and ‘Saint-flation’: How St Kilda became the AFL’s disruptors

Silvagni, De Koning and ‘Saint-flation’: How St Kilda became the AFL’s disruptors

A quarter of a century after they landed Fraser Gehrig and Aaron Hamill, the Saints have reprised their role as a disruptor, and this time, the...

03.09.2025 4

Brisbane Times

Jake Niall

My top 30 of 2025: These two AFL superstars were in the pre-season top five, now they’re nowhere to be seen

My top 30 of 2025: These two AFL superstars were in the pre-season top five, now they’re nowhere to be seen

These players have been ranked, again, based on a two-year cycle. So, one super season does not make a player top-five or 10, but a major decline in...

31.08.2025 20

WA Today

Jake Niall

My top 30 of 2025: These two AFL superstars were in the pre-season top five, now they’re nowhere to be seen

My top 30 of 2025: These two AFL superstars were in the pre-season top five, now they’re nowhere to be seen

These players have been ranked, again, based on a two-year cycle. So, one super season does not make a player top-five or 10, but a major decline in...

31.08.2025 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

My top 30 of 2025: These two AFL superstars were in the pre-season top five, now they’re nowhere to be seen

My top 30 of 2025: These two AFL superstars were in the pre-season top five, now they’re nowhere to be seen

These players have been ranked, again, based on a two-year cycle. So, one super season does not make a player top-five or 10, but a major decline in...

31.08.2025 30

The Age

Jake Niall

My top 30 of 2025: These two AFL superstars were in the pre-season top five, now they’re nowhere to be seen

My top 30 of 2025: These two AFL superstars were in the pre-season top five, now they’re nowhere to be seen

These players have been ranked, again, based on a two-year cycle. So, one super season does not make a player top-five or 10, but a major decline in...

31.08.2025 10

Brisbane Times

Jake Niall

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

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...

24.08.2025 7

WA Today

Jake Niall

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

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...

24.08.2025 7

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

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

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...

24.08.2025 8

The Age

Jake Niall

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

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...

24.08.2025 7

Brisbane Times

Jake Niall

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

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...

23.08.2025 10

WA Today

Jake Niall

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

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...

23.08.2025 2

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

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

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...

23.08.2025 2

The Age

Jake Niall

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

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...

23.08.2025 20

Brisbane Times

Jake Niall

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.

05.08.2025 3

WA Today

Jake Niall

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.

05.08.2025 6

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

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.

05.08.2025 6

The Age

Jake Niall

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.

05.08.2025 5

Brisbane Times

Jake Niall

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...

02.08.2025 10

WA Today

Jake Niall

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...

02.08.2025 7

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

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...

02.08.2025 10

The Age

Jake Niall

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...

02.08.2025 6

Brisbane Times

Jake Niall

From a Lygon era: Why I can’t cop a Silvagni at Collingwood

In terms of family name and connection to a club, the Silvagnis are comparable to the Kennedys at Hawthorn. Josh Kennedy, though, had good reason to...

24.07.2025 6

WA Today

Jake Niall

From a Lygon era: Why I can’t cop a Silvagni at Collingwood

In terms of family name and connection to a club, the Silvagnis are comparable to the Kennedys at Hawthorn. Josh Kennedy, though, had good reason to...

24.07.2025 3

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

From a Lygon era: Why I can’t cop a Silvagni at Collingwood

In terms of family name and connection to a club, the Silvagnis are comparable to the Kennedys at Hawthorn. Josh Kennedy, though, had good reason to...

24.07.2025 7

The Age

Jake Niall

From a Lygon era: Why I can’t cop a Silvagni at Collingwood

In terms of family name and connection to a club, the Silvagnis are comparable to the Kennedys at Hawthorn. Josh Kennedy, though, had good reason to...

24.07.2025 5

Brisbane Times

Jake Niall

The AFL’s flawed fixture needs repair. Here’s the solution

The fixture is primarily predicated on the AFL as an entertainment product rather than fairness. But this change could help level the playing field.

17.07.2025 10

WA Today

Jake Niall

The AFL’s flawed fixture needs repair. Here’s the solution

The fixture is primarily predicated on the AFL as an entertainment product rather than fairness. But this change could help level the playing field.

17.07.2025 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

The AFL’s flawed fixture needs repair. Here’s the solution

The fixture is primarily predicated on the AFL as an entertainment product rather than fairness. But this change could help level the playing field.

17.07.2025 10

The Age

Jake Niall

The AFL’s flawed fixture needs repair. Here’s the solution

The fixture is primarily predicated on the AFL as an entertainment product rather than fairness. But this change could help level the playing field.

17.07.2025 10

Brisbane Times

Jake Niall

Beatable, yet hard to beat: The hard calls facing Collingwood

Craig McRae and his match committee have some hard calls ahead if they are to secure what would be a remarkable second flag inside three seasons.

12.07.2025 8

WA Today

Jake Niall

Beatable, yet hard to beat: The hard calls facing Collingwood

Craig McRae and his match committee have some hard calls ahead if they are to secure what would be a remarkable second flag inside three seasons.

12.07.2025 9

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

Beatable, yet hard to beat: The hard calls facing Collingwood

Craig McRae and his match committee have some hard calls ahead if they are to secure what would be a remarkable second flag inside three seasons.

12.07.2025 10

The Age

Jake Niall

Beatable, yet hard to beat: The hard calls facing Collingwood

Craig McRae and his match committee have some hard calls ahead if they are to secure what would be a remarkable second flag inside three seasons.

12.07.2025 9

Brisbane Times

Jake Niall

AFL shouldn’t be spooked by NRL’s Origin behemoth as it weighs up mid-year competition

It is right for the AFL to discuss a mid-year tournament, but nothing new will rival the jewel in the rugby league crown.

07.07.2025 10

WA Today

Jake Niall

AFL shouldn’t be spooked by NRL’s Origin behemoth as it weighs up mid-year competition

It is right for the AFL to discuss a mid-year tournament, but nothing new will rival the jewel in the rugby league crown.

07.07.2025 30

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall

AFL shouldn’t be spooked by NRL’s Origin behemoth as it weighs up mid-year competition

It is right for the AFL to discuss a mid-year tournament, but nothing new will rival the jewel in the rugby league crown.

07.07.2025 10

The Age

Jake Niall

AFL shouldn’t be spooked by NRL’s Origin behemoth as it weighs up mid-year competition

It is right for the AFL to discuss a mid-year tournament, but nothing new will rival the jewel in the rugby league crown.

07.07.2025 9

Brisbane Times

Jake Niall

The writing was on the wall for the Blues – in black and white this time

The clear gulf in class against Collingwood should underscore that Carlton’s primary issues are with their playing list, rather than strategy or...

04.07.2025 8

WA Today

Jake Niall

The writing was on the wall for the Blues – in black and white this time

The clear gulf in class against Collingwood should underscore that Carlton’s primary issues are with their playing list, rather than strategy or...

04.07.2025 10

The Sydney Morning Herald

Jake Niall