Of all the ‘unimportant’ topics we cover, this one is the most important
I frequently write to you about the important public interest journalism of The Age. There is plenty of it. In the past week we’ve brought you revelations about Chinese warships conducting live-fire exercises in international waters off the Australian coast, of the state government silencing critics of the suburban rail loop and our nation’s spy agency linking organised crime and bikie gangs to antisemitic attacks in Australia.
Regular readers of my editor’s notes will know how much I value the ability of The Age’s journalists and editors to consistently break big stories and cover with honesty and bravery the most important issues in Victoria and the nation. We know that’s why many of you come to The Age and we see this journalism as the core of our contract with our subscribers.
The Age has assembled a team of sports editors and footy journalists that is undoubtedly the best in the business.Credit: The Age
But we are also a destination for the less important things in life. The things that bring us some joy in gloomier times and indulge our interests and obsessions. Movies, the arts, food, travel and, of course, sport. Lots of sport.
Next Thursday, the state of Victoria will undergo its annual transformation from a regular, modern society into a series of colourful, scarf-clad tribes in time for the beginning of the 2025 AFL season.
I’m quite fond of the maxim: Of all the unimportant things, football is the most important. However in Victoria, I’m not sure it holds true.
Describing Australian rules football as unimportant feels like blasphemy. Sometimes, it feels like the most important show in town. Our audience figures certainly suggest that is the case, with the AFL consistently among The Age’s most read topics every year. It is also inextricably bound to Victorian society, business and politics.
The Age’s calm and clever sports editor, Chloe SaltauCredit: Simon Schluter
With that in mind, our newsroom treats footy with a certain importance. That’s why we’ve assembled a team of sports editors and footy journalists that is undoubtedly the best in the business.
The team is led by our calm and clever sports editor Chloe Saltau. Although she was a cricket specialist in a previous journalistic life, you would need to search long and hard to find anyone with a more thorough knowledge of football than her.
Chloe’s off-field leadership is complemented nicely by our team captain, chief football writer Jake Niall, a man who knows everyone in footy and has maintained a child-like passion for the sport despite his years of experience. His excitement for the magic of the game is infectious.
Chief football writer Jake Niall has retained a child-like passion for the sport.Credit: Simon Schluter
Our star columnist, Caroline Wilson, continues to break news after more than four decades on the beat during which she has won just about every available award in journalism.
Caroline Wilson is one of the best-ever columnists, on any topic.Credit: Craig Sillitoe
Much of that time was as The Age’s chief football writer. Wilson started her 2025 season by breaking the news of the AFL’s controversial new anti-drugs policy. Her weekly columns are always compelling and agenda-setting, often entertaining and sometimes emotional. She is, in my view, one of Australia’s best-ever columnists on any topic. We are lucky and grateful to have her.
Returning home to The Age newsroom this year is Sam McClure. Sam returned just in time for the Australian Open during which he, along with Nick McKenzie and Kate McClymont, helped break the news of a match fixing probe assembled after two matches involving the former world No.17 Bernard Tomic.
Sam McClure is one of sport journalism’s top news breakers.
Long-time readers will recognise McClure as an Age journalist of several years. He also has pedigree; his late father Geoff “Chook” McClure was also an accomplished sports journalist who wrote for The Age for many years. Sam is one of the most prolific news breakers in sports journalism – you’ll be seeing him at the top of our homepage again very soon.
Our senior sports writer Michael Gleeson understands football as well as anyone, which readers surely know from his insights on our Real Footy podcast (produced by another talented Age sports editor Claire Siracusa and co-hosted by Wilson and Niall). If not that, then surely his coverage of some of the biggest stories in footy and his weekly column, Four Points, leave readers in no doubt of his expertise.
Senior sports writer Michael Gleeson knows football as well as anyone.Credit: Simon Schluter
Marc McGowan will tell you he’s a tennis specialist, but he’s also a fine footy journalist who has developed rich expertise in player trades and drafting. He has a brain for detail and a loyal following among those who closely follow the detail of player movements and recruitment. He is also a relentless newshound who brings story after story to our subscribers.
Marc McGowan has developed a rich expertise in player trades and drafting.Credit: Simon Schluter
Andrew Wu is one of our most versatile sports reporters. He understands the business of sport, breaks news, writes cutting analysis and can weave together a feature that spellbinds the reader. He has expertise across a variety of sports, but is definitely an expert on footy. And a suggestion for subscribers only: you could do a lot worse than following his tips if you want to win your office tipping competition.
Reporter Andrew Wu.Credit: Ryan Stuart
There is not much that gets covered by The Age sports team that doesn’t have Peter Ryan’s fingerprints on it somewhere. Possibly the hardest working person in footy journalism, not much gets under Peter’s guard. A sounding board for editors and colleagues, Ryan is also a prolific news breaker who has the ability to see past the superficial and tell a deeper story.
Peter Ryan is possibly the hardest working person in sports journalism.Credit: Simon Schluter
Jon Pierik knows football as well as anyone, but his unique skill is his ability to look at the game in terms of its place in society. He recognises the AFL as a corporate leader and big business with a duty of care to its players and fans, as well as a beloved game. He takes a clear-eyed approach to some of the most challenging issues facing the sport.
Jon PierikCredit: Simon Schluter
Finally, an announcement. I would like to welcome our three expert columnists to The Age for the 2025 season.
Former Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy, a hall-of-famer and 312-game veteran, now radio host, returns to The Age after spending time as head of football operations and performance at the Dockers.
Complementing Murphy as columnists will be a couple of three-time premiership players in Jimmy Bartel and Libby Birch.
Bartel, a former Geelong champion, Brownlow medallist and radio host, is a respected voice on the big footy issues, and AFLW star Birch is a rising star of the footy media already known to listeners of the Real Footy podcast.
Our footy journalists and columnists are not only accomplished individuals, their complementary skills make them a formidable unit.
I think you’ll agree, it’s a premiership-quality team.
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