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.
The people behind the Sports Writers Festival
FRANCIS LEACH
ABC TV, BROACASTER & JOURNALIST
Francis Leach is a broadcaster and journalist who has played all over the ground. Francis covers A-League and Socceroos football, AFL & NRL action, amongst other sports. He’s a regular panellist on ABCTV’s Sunday Sports show Offsiders, Sideliners 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, Empire of the Sun, Jet, Sleepy Jackson, 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 (Australia’s Football Fan Network) and GGA Destination Management (providing product solutions to major event stakeholders).
You can catch Michael on Box2Box a weekly football broadcast each Friday from 5pm on Macquarie News Talk Sport or follow him on twitter @michaeledgley.