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.
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.
AFL chiefs look to South Africa
South Africa is the AFL's preferred international recruiting field of the future.
Saint boss to 'flush out' Thomas
St Kilda president claims the lingering influence of Grant Thomas
is akin to a "virus".
Harris warns of AFL class system
Melbourne CEO warns of a permanent order of first, second and third-world clubs.
Analysis backs long kicking
Dr Mark Stewart of RMIT reveals a secret to AFL recruiters and
football department heads.
Saints chief sues ex-coach
St Kilda president Rod Butterss and the man he sacked as coach, Grant Thomas, head to court.
Bradley's blooper on the big stage
Sadly for Kepler Bradley, it is not only good reputations that are established on the big occasion.
Imps from the west cut Cats down to size
The Bulldogs showed Geelong that fight can still have an advantage over height.
Sydney move for Everitt, Tarrant looks unlikely
Sydney coach Paul Roos appears to cast serious doubt on the club's ability to secure Hawthorn ruckman Peter Everitt or Collingwood forward Chris Tarrant.
Dogs still short of the best
As Western Bulldogs president David Smorgon said of his team: "We made an impression this year and clearly we've got something very good going on at our club.
Demons need quick rethink
Melbourne must answer several important questions over the next month as its season is reviewed.
Collingwood back in the hunt
As Collingwood begins to look back on season 2006 and understand its elimination final loss, different people see different reasons for its stodgy finish.
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