Best sport profile – written

This award recognises the best example of responsible and well-researched written profiling of an individual athlete, team or coach (can be print or online items).

2020 Winner

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, opens in a new tab, the ‘mystery man with the red paddle’, to share his side of the story and how the events on that day unfolded.

Finalists

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, opens in a new tab, 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, opens in a new tab, 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, opens in a new tab 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.