Who we are

The Sports Writers Festival celebrates sport through the written word. It is a tribal gathering of writers and readers who share a passion for sport and great writing.

And where else but in Melbourne and Sydney? Towns famous for an obsession with sport and love of the arts.

The Sports Writers Festival is a highly anticipated feature of the Melbourne and Sydney literary and sporting calendars.

Sport expresses the human condition.

It’s about ethics, money, power and politics.

Identity and culture.

Success, failure, exultation and devil’s bargains.

It’s about the simple joy of playing – and storytelling.

It’s the stuff that fuels great writing.

In traditional writers festivals sport has been sidelined.

Not anymore. The Sports Writers Festival makes it the main game.

“It is a tribal gathering of writers and readers
who share a passion for sport and great writing.”

The people behind the Sports Writers Festival

FRANCIS LEACH

BROACASTER & JOURNALIST

Francis Leach is a broadcaster and journalist who has played all over the ground. Francis covers A-League and International (Socceroos & Matildas) football, AFL & NRL action, amongst other sports.

He’s a sometimes panellist on ABCTV’s Sunday Sports show Offsiders and often pinch hits on Network 10’s The Project talking sport. Through the media Francis has racked up significant game time and he’s also well-known on twitter as @SaintFrankly where he is a leading opinion shaper.

ANDY KELLY

WINTERMAN & GOLDSTEIN MUSIC MANAGEMENT

Andy is a director of Winterman & Goldstein Music Management, representing artists the likes of The Avalanches, Something for Kate and Paul Dempsey.

He is also a founding director of one of Australia’s most respected independent record labels, Ivy League Records.

A keen sports fan, Andy developed the successful Presentation Night live talk series, bringing together music-loving footballers and football loving musicians to discuss their shared passions – hosted by Francis Leach.

MICHAEL EDGLEY

MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL

Michael is a management professional from the world of sport and entertainment. His CV includes roles at AFL Clubs, International Football and Major Event Organisations.

Today, Michael is involved in a variety of businesses including his strategic consultancy Meaesh, the Green & Gold Army and GGA Destination Management .

You can catch Michael on Box2Box a weekly football broadcast which drops every Monday and Wednesday evening’s or follow him on twitter @michaeledgley.

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