Quentin Hull, ABC Radio

Quentin Hull covered some of sports most defining moments in a year like no other. With the AFL season shifted predominantly to Queensland, Hull became the leading voice on the ground. He covered the suspension and resumption of the NRL season, international rugby union and cricket. He created and hosted the "Grandstand Cafe", which gave new light to some of the greatest moments in Australian sport.

Highly Commended

Neroli Meadows, Ordineroli Speaking

Ordineroli Speaking celebrates resilience in sport by giving sports people a safe place to share their most personal stories. The podcast has created national and international news, paving the way for important conversations. Guests for the first season included international cricket stars Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Lyon and Peter Siddle, AFL stars Dale Thomas and Adam Treloar, triple Olympian Eamon Sullivan and Netball champion Natalie Medhurst.

Finalists

Gerard Whateley, SEN

From the very first day of the COVID-19 crisis in Australia, Gerard Whateley led the conversation and coverage through the prism of sport, beginning with the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix, the banning of crowds at sporting events and the creeping sense of dread that sport was under threat. Each day for three months, Whateley staged discussions and debates with those in charge, asking vital questions and exploring the complexities.

Tracey Holmes, ABC Radio

Whether it is doping, funding, racism, protest, or winning the right to host a FIFA World Cup, The Ticket is a weekly, one hour, in depth look at the biggest issues and events in global sport. It is not about headlines, or clickbait, it is a genuine attempt to understand the many complexities and shades of grey confronted by those who run sport and the impact they have on those who play it.

Peter Badel, The Courier-Mail

The fall of the Brisbane Broncos NRL team in 2020 will go down as one of the most dramatic collapses of any club in any code in Australian sport. In 30 days, Peter Badel’s series of exclusive stories on the Broncos' collapse covered COVID-related booze breaches, a club record fine from the NRL, a social media scandal and, finally, the resignation of head coach Anthony Seibold.

Julian Linden, The Daily Telegraph

Julian Linden focuses on sports and issues often neglected in mainstream sports reporting, writing breaking news in athlete wellbeing, funding, doping and Olympic sports. His investigations into Chinese swimmer Sun Yang’s ban by the Court of Arbitration for Sport; reports of the cancellation and rescheduling of the Olympic Games; and an investigation with Jessica Halloran from The Australian into the suicide of Russian-Australian ice skater Katia Alexandrovskaya all led to global headlines.

Will Swanton, The Australian

Will Swanton’s writing in 2020 covered a variety of sports and writing styles: from the biggest sports story of 2020, the fact that sport actually stopped; the death of Kobe Bryant and why events such as these affect us; a profile of Ash Barty during her high-profile Australian Open campaign; an interview with Michelle Payne; and pieces marking the 20th anniversary of Catherine Freeman winning gold at the Sydney Olympic Games.

Adrian Proszenko, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Sun-Herald

Adrian Proszenko covered what has been one of the most dramatic seasons in the history of the NRL, expertly switching between writing hard news, match reporting and in-depth features and analysis. The COVID-19 outbreak threatened the very existence of the NRL and Proszenko provided unique insights into the game’s response. He also produced outstanding feature and analysis pieces throughout an unforgettable year.

Tracey Holmes, ABC Online

Complementing her podcast and regular radio program, Tracey Holmes’ written content for The Ticket covers the biggest issues and events in global sport. Taking a closer look at topics such as doping, funding, racism, protest, or winning the right to host a FIFA World Cup, The Ticket online seeks to understand the complexities and shades of grey confronted by those who run sport and the impact they have on those who play it.

Kelli Underwood, ABC and Fox Sports Australia

Kelli Underwood rose to the challenge of covering one of the toughest ever years for sport. As the host of ABC Offsiders she kept audiences across every twist and turn in all major sporting codes while demonstrating her impeccable contacts, research and preparation. Underwood also returned to the TV commentary box to broadcast AFL for the first time in a decade and received an overwhelmingly positive response.

Zac Bailey, NRL.com

As a reporter and presenter for NRL.com, Zac Bailey covered day-to-day issues related directly to the NRL. He also took on bigger projects that addressed societal matters including racism, mental health, child sexual abuse, a deadly measles outbreak in Samoa, bushfires, COVID-19 and how all of these issues related to rugby league and its players. These features helped create awareness and helped viewers become empathetic to the subjects affected.

Brenton Speed, Fox Sports Australia

Brenton Speed is the first person in Australian television to commentate on three different football codes - and sometimes all on the same weekend. His commentary in 2020 included AFL, NRL, A-League, Matildas and Olyroos action, including his first A-League grand final backed up by calling the NRLW Grand Final. He was also on the microphone when Australia qualified for the Olympics in both men’s and women’s football for the first time since 2004.

Amanda Shalala, ABC

Amanda Shalala’s mini-documentary video series In Her Words for ABC Sport hears directly from sportswomen on challenges they’ve faced in pursuing their passion. The seven-episode series explores underrepresented issues in women's sport including fertility struggles, cultural barriers, body shaming, transgender participation, maternity protections and periods, helping facilitate conversations which are long overdue. Unlike much coverage of women in sport, Shalala seeks out audiences beyond traditional sports fans.

Adrian Brown, Richard Ostroff, ‘The Test – A New Era for Australia’s Team’, Whooshka Media and Cricket Australia

The Test: A New Era for Australia’s Team, is an eight-part docuseries that focuses on the Australian men’s cricket team following the appointment of Justin Langer as coach. The Test explores the themes of redemption and rebuilding, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s efforts to not only reclaim their position as players but as ambassadors for the sport and their country following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.

Adrian and Richard also acknowledge Amazon Prime Video for producing the series.

Laurence Billiet, ‘FREEMAN’, ABC TV + iview

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Sydney 2000 - Olympic Games, Cathy Freeman shared her story for the first time in a one-hour documentary for the ABC. Drawing on archival footage and intimate conversations with Cathy, the film takes viewers through her remarkable sporting career and the frenzied build-up to the Olympics against the backdrop of Indigenous Reconciliation. FREEMAN was a landmark TV event that attracted over 1 million viewers, making it one of the most watched documentaries of 2020

Finalists

Chris Gillett, ‘Tayla Harris’, 7.30, ABC TV

Australian rules footballer Tayla Harris was stunned when a photo of her kicking a ball went viral in March 2019. It ignited a deluge of online abuse, but the AFLW player and professional boxer turned it into a moment to inspire women and girls everywhere. Chris Gillett spoke to Tayla and her parents about Tayla’s childhood, her passion for playing footy and the abuse and threats Tayla received over the photo.

Quentin McDermott, Greg Hassall, Rebecca Armstrong, Ian Harley, ‘Beating the Blues’, Australian Story, The ABC

Without rugby league, Greg Inglis was spiraling into depression. In this exclusive Australian Story, Inglis opens up about years of misdiagnosis, self-medication, and how he was finally able to make sense of the overwhelming mood swings that plagued his life. As he prepared to resume his stellar career in the UK, he spoke with extraordinary candour about his mental health, to ensure that others with the same condition don’t suffer in silence.

Iain Payten, ‘Judging Jane Saville’, The Sydney Morning Herald

Heartbreaking images of Jane Saville being disqualified a few hundred metres from a certain gold medal at the Sydney Olympics are seared into Australia's collective memory. Twenty years later, Iain Payten tracked down race-walking judge Lamberto Vacchi, the ‘mystery man with the red paddle’, to share his side of the story and how the events on that day unfolded.

Konrad Marshall, ‘From prison to premiership: the road to Marlion Pickett’s AFL debut’, Good Weekend

Marlion Pickett, a quiet 27-year-old former jailbird and father of four, became the first person to debut in an AFL Grand Final in almost seven decades, and then put on a performance bested by only two others. Konrad Marshall’s profile delves into his remarkable backstory, from an examination of a documentary that featured Pickett behind bars, to his cultural heritage as a member of the Noongar nation.

Adrian Proszenko, ‘The method and madness of Des Hasler’, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Sun-Herald

Eccentric Manly coach Des Hasler is an intensely private man who has knocked back countless interview requests. However, Sydney Morning Herald journalist Adrian Proszenko finally convinced him to grant an expansive chat, which resulted in an outstanding portrait. Not only did it reveal Hasler’s philosophies on rugby league, but also provided an insight into one of the most fascinating figures in the game.

Megan Hustwaite, ‘Aussie NBA star Patty Mills Spurs into action’, Herald Sun Weekend magazine.

In his only Australian interview, basketball superstar Patty Mills opened up to Megan Hustwaite about his deep passion for his culture, community, giving back and the pillars behind his newly-formed foundation. The third Indigenous basketballer to represent the Australian Boomers, Mills spoke about paving the way for the next generation of ballers and how winning an Olympic gold medal for Australia keeps him awake at night.

‘Boxing Day Test’, Fox Sports Australia

Fox Cricket’s coverage of the Boxing Day Test included 36 cameras, a production crew of 107 people and augmented reality(?) graphics. For the first time in International Test Cricket players were interviewed live during play via world leading technology attached to the Flying Fox Spider Camera, while Smash Factor provided data from the bat including bat speed, bat angle and point of impact.

Finalists

‘2020 Tour de France’, SBS Sport

The global pandemic forced SBS to produce its 2020 Tour de France coverage from its studios in Sydney and Melbourne. SBS delivered extensive coverage across its traditional broadcast  and digital platforms including 21 live stages, morning and evening highlights programs, stage replays, Zoom links to Australian cyclists, and a daily podcast. The Cycling Central website was transformed into a TDF Hub and the Tour Tracker App delivered audiences uninterrupted live streaming.

‘ICC Women's T20 World Cup’, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age,

The comprehensive coverage of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup from The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age included profiles, analysis, detailed match previews, columns from players and live online coverage. Some of the mastheads’ best writers including Greg Baum, Melinda Farrell, Andrew Wu, Jon Pierik and Lisa Sthalekar delivered consistent quality coverage giving readers genuine insights into the event.

‘Best Games Ever’, The Sydney Morning Herald

The 2000 Sydney Olympic Games marked a special moment in time for all Australians. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Olympics and Paralympics, The Sydney Morning Herald set out to shed new light on the famous moments from the Games, and to tell amazing stories that had never been aired.

‘UEFA Champions League’, Optus Sport

All 237 matches of the world's premier club competition are live and on-demand on Optus Sport. Optus Sport's studio coverage featured homegrown and international talent that have played at the highest level, who present an upbeat, fun and colourful product perfectly suited to midweek mornings. Coverage included social media material from inside and outside the stadium, behind the scenes with the fans and players.

‘Fox Sports Audio, Virtual Crowd and Flying Fox Camera’, Fox Sports Australia

Fox Sports developed a Virtual Crowd solution when fans were unable to attend live matches post the COVID-19 lockdown. The Virtual Crowd rode the highs and lows of the game with up to 45 unique options available for each code. It was recognised globally with collaboration sought from international broadcasters. Fox Audio also developed a mic solution on the Flying Fox Camera that enabled cricket commentators to speak with players on the ground during the game.

Finalists

David Mark, Jack Fisher, Alex Palmer and Stephen Hutcheon, ‘The Science of Running’, ABC

Running is one of the most basic and natural forms of human movement, but as it has become more popular, the volume of advice and information about how to run has multiplied exponentially. Using data from an elite Olympic runner and an average recreational runner, David Mark and producers from the ABC Digital Innovation team worked with the New South Wales Institute of Sport to break down the running process. The story combined advanced video capture technology with innovative digital production techniques.

‘Siren: A Women in Sport Collective’, Siren Sport

Launched in January 2020, Siren: A Women in Sport Collective aims to elevate women’s voices, alongside other diverse and marginalised voices to deliver feminist content that challenges the status quo of sport media. The platform enables passionate women’s sports fans to contribute to the initiative through crowd sourcing and merchandise sales. This allows Siren to renumerate its all-female and gender non-binary contributors, in a bid to abolish the free labour model many women in sport face.

Cody Atkinson, James Coventry, Sean Lawson, Jack Snape, ‘AFL and NRL analysis for ABC Sport’, ABC Sport

The Australian sporting audience got closer than ever to the how and why of AFL and NRL in 2020. By analysing datasets never before available to journalists, the ABC team pulled apart the forces at play in the country's top sporting codes. They cross-referenced findings with videos of in-game action - the forward entries, the try assists, the one-on-one contests, the grubber kicks to create the ABC Sport’s weekly analysis articles which combined data, video and accessible copy with compelling visualisations.

Matthew Carmichael, ‘Paralympic Presence’, 7 News

Matthew Carmichael is committed to ensuring Paralympic sport has a constant presence on mainstream commercial TV news. From Carmichael’s stories on how stars like Vanessa Low, Scott Reardon and Curtis McGrath remain focused during lockdown, to Ryley Batt being selected as Australian Paralympic Team Co-Captain for Tokyo, Carmichael ensures our Paralympic stars and their incredible feats stand alongside Olympic athletes.

Daniela Intili, ‘Nine-year-old Brydi’, ABC

On Australia Day 2020, nine-year-old Brisbane schoolgirl Brydi Saul became the youngest person to complete Sydney’s Oz Day 10k Wheelchair race, despite crashing out in her first lap. Daniela Intili spoke to the determined young para-athlete and her mother over several weeks as they opened up about Brydi’s struggles with bullying, depression and suicidal ideation, and how sport has helped improve Brydi’s confidence and mental health.

Scott Spits, The Age

Scott Spits is a regular reporter on issues and challenges for disabled athletes, having covered the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Brazil and the 2018 Winter Paralympics in South Korea. Spits covers a range of ideas and issues helping athletes highlight their achievements. His recent work includes a profile on wheelchair racer Eliza Ault-Connell, wheelchair rugby player and now board member Jason Lees and Dylan Alcott’s convincing win over Andy Lapthorne in the Australian Open men’s quad wheelchair final.

Nas Campanella, Celina Edmonds, John Lang, ‘Sydney Paralympics 20th Anniversary’, ABC

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Sydney Paralympics, disability affairs reporter Nas Campanella and the Specialist Reporting Team’s Celina Edmonds spoke to some of the standout athletes from the time including former swimmer Siobhan Paton, athletes turned coaches Tim Matthews and Louise Sauvage and athletes Kelly Cartwright and Madison de Rosario. All agreed the Sydney Games had been a watershed moment for athletes with disability. Campanella, who is blind, also shared her own unique experience attending the swimming as a child.

Kieran Pender, Mike Bowers, ‘From the ashes of catastrophe: how 'aqua therapy' is helping a town through 2020’, Freelance, Guardian Australia

The past 12 months have been brutal for the NSW South Coast but throughout, surfing has provided a sense of community and well-being. This feature highlighted the role surfing has played in helping local communities manage the trauma of 2020. With evocative language and compelling storytelling from NSW South Coast freelance journalist Kieran Pender and picturesque imagery from Guardian photographer Mike Bowers, the feature provided a ray of sunshine amid the gloom. As one local explained: “Going out in the water every day has really helped. There’s that old Billabong line, ‘Only a surfer knows the feeling.’”

Daniel Miles, ‘AFL called on to give greater recognition for marngrook and Moyston as home of football’, ABC News

Nestled at the foot of Victoria's Grampian ranges, the tiny rural town of Moyston is known for two things: pumas and football. The first comes from a widely debunked rumour that a puma inhabits the town's hilly mountain regions. The second, from ancient stories the local Djab Wurrung community has handed down from generation to generation. Daniel Miles traces the history of Aussie Rules Football back to its roots, hearing first-hand the stories indigenous Australians have passed down for centuries.

Nick Wright, ‘Sporting Chance’, Townsville Bulletin

The Sporting Chance series examined issues surrounding the resumption of community sport post COVID-19 and the differing impact of the state’s return to sport policies on regional and rural areas. Topics covered included increased pressure on volunteers to ensure games went ahead particularly felt by regional clubs, the disparity in accessing high performances resources between North Queensland and the south-east corner, and the cost of sport at a time when regional centres were under major financial strain.

Donna Page, ‘It's Just Not Cricket’, Newcastle Herald

The Newcastle Herald revealed issues within the Hunter Region's largest adult cricket competition run by Newcastle City and Suburban Cricket Association (NCSCA) and has written dozens of stories over ten months. Outcomes of the Herald's investigation include Cricket NSW appointing retired NSW Police assistant commissioner Peter Parsons to conduct an independent investigation into the NCSCA. After revelations that NCSCA repeatedly refused to test a vote of no-confidence in its board, a new competition was established.

Amanda Shalala, ‘In Her Words’, ABC

Created by Amanda Shalala, ABC Sport's women in sport series In Her Words is a mini-documentary video series which hears directly from a variety of sportswomen on the challenges they’ve faced in pursuing their passion. The seven-episode series explores underrepresented issues in women's sport including fertility struggles, cultural barriers, body shaming, transgender participation, maternity protections and periods helping facilitate conversations which are long overdue.

Finalists

Johanna McDiarmid, ‘The Cheer Community’, ABC

Johanna McDiarmid explores the inclusivity of the cheer community at a western Sydney gym. Jessica Evans, 17, is vision impaired and has been cheering for nine years thanks to modified routines and help from her coaches and the club. Kiana Roberts, 11, has Autism Spectrum Disorder (non-verbal), ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Motor Dyspraxia and anxiety and loves performing on stage. While cheer is some important ‘me-time’ for 42-year-old mother of four Michelle Parkinson. All say they’ve benefitted from being involved in such an inclusive sport.

The Outer Sanctum, ABC

The Outer Sanctum Podcast is an all-female podcast dedicated to promoting social inclusion and diversity in Australian Rules football. In addition to a weekly podcast, The Outer Sanctum produced a live ABC radio show during the AFLW season. Guests included Julia Gillard on women, leadership and sport, Nicole Livingston and Steve Hocking on the future of the AFLW, Paralympian Daniela Di Toro on disability and inclusion, Natasha Stott-Despoja on sport diplomacy and family violence and Haneen Zrieka on Ramadan, religion and sport, among many others.

David Davutovic, Ben Coonan, ‘Football Belongs’, Optus Sport

Optus Sport’s Football Belongs series celebrates the profound contribution of European communities to Australia through a football lens. Australia’s ethnic clubs have been marginalised and withstood challenges to their respective identities, especially since the National Soccer League folded in 2004. The series illustrated the communities’ continued vibrancy and passion, particularly about football. Football Belongs revisited the stories central to Australia’s immigration success, and explored the unique, rich traditions many communities continue to celebrate, be it through football, folk dancing, food – or all three.

Jessica Halloran, Julian Linden, ‘On Thin Ice: Katia's Story’, The Australian, The Daily Telegraph

Katia Alexandrovskaya’s suicide in Moscow disturbingly was no surprise to ice skating insiders while officials who enabled her to switch allegiances to Australia saw no need for an inquiry. So Jessica Halloran and Julian Linden tracked down independent eyewitnesses and interviewed experts in Australia and abroad to uncover a troubling story. They revealed serious weaknesses of accountability in the regulations and protocols to safeguard athletes, leading to serious changes in sport around member protection.

Caro Meldrum-Hanna, Amy Donaldson, Fred Shaw, Justin Stevens, ‘The Final Race’, 7.30, ABC TV

The Final Race is the ground-breaking, gritty investigation that sent shock waves around Australia and the world, heralded as a watershed moment for the sport of racing, sparking multiple inquiries and ushering in real reform. For years the thoroughbred racing industry’s promoters and regulators have publicly promised that its horses are humanely and safely retired. The Final Race revealed a very different story.

Jenny Sinclair, ‘Fertility and elite female athletes’, Netball Scoop

The window for conception coincides with that of peak athletic performance, and there are also multiple factors that negatively impact a female athlete's ability to conceive. Jenny Sinclair’s article discussed the barriers to fertility and how athletes can be better supported to become parents. Sinclair’s article included interviews with a leading fertility expert, scientists working in women's health, the Australian Netball Players Association and Netball Australia, as well as an extensive literature review.

Quentin McDermott, Angela Leonardi, Caitlin Shea, ‘Boots and All’, Australian Story, ABC TV

In November 2018 a fellow football international, Bahraini refugee Hakeem Al-Araibi, was arrested in Thailand and threatened with extradition back to the country where he had been imprisoned and tortured. Craig Foster led a global campaign to free him. In this unique Australian Story, Foster and Hakeem describe how that campaign unfolded, and how close it came to disaster. The film addresses the way some sportsmen and women are targeted by regimes when they speak up in support of human rights.

Andrew Probyn, Jack Snape, ‘Sports Rorts: from kick-off to cash splash and that colour-coded spreadsheet’, ABC News

Led by political editor Andrew Probyn and Jack Snape in Canberra, the ABC made the issue of grassroots sports funding relevant to millions through its reporting of the Community Sport Infrastructure and Female Facilities and Water Safety Stream programs. Using investigative data analysis and accessing confidential documents and emails, the ABC was able to highlight issues in the grant evaluation and approvals processes.

Jim  Maxwell AM

ABC commentator Jim Maxwell AM accepted the honour from his home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs – the same lounge room where he called the Boxing Day Test due to COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time.

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