The Age's exceptional and much-loved chief football writer, Caroline Wilson, is stepping down from the role she has performed so expertly for the past 19 years.

Wilson, a true legend of Australian journalism, will remain with The Age as a regular AFL columnist and as a panellist on the Real Footy podcast, but said the time was right for her to reduce her workload.

Caroline Wilson is stepping down as The Age's chief football writer. Credit:Justin McManus

Multi-award winning journalist Jake Niall will rejoin The Age as chief football writer in the new year.

"It's been a great privilege to have spent the past two decades covering the greatest sport in the world at one of the world's best newspapers," Wilson said.