Finalists have been announced for the 11th Harry Gordon Australian Sports Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Champion Data.

Judges for the 2025 award were Michael James of SCA, Paul Kennedy of the ABC and Chris Salter of Seven Melbourne.

The winner will be announced at the 31st Quill Awards Dinner on Friday 20 March 2026. Book your tickets now.

Finalists for the 11th Harry Gordon Australian Sports Journalist of the Year award are presented alphabetically by surname below. Please note that some work submitted with entries – including print materials – may not be included.

Mitch Cleary, 7NEWS, for coverage including

• Izak Rankine under investigation for homophobic slur, 7NEWS
• Izak Rankine flees the country in wake of AFL suspension, 7NEWS

Michael Gleeson, The Age

• British broadsheets, German TV, French radio: He’s just a teen, but Gout is taking the world by storm in Tokyo, The Age
• How did the Stawell Gift waste what should have been its greatest ever race?, Sydney Morning Herald
• Rankine, Snoop and the AFL’s hypocrisy on homophobia, The Age
• No more ‘oh Bailey’: The schoolboy treatment that lets Smith escape accountability, The Age
• $1m payout won’t stop Demons making tough call on Goodwin if necessary, The Age

Jake Niall, The Age

• The 30-year Blues, The Age, 11 March 2025
• ‘An absolute nightmare’: Sacked Carlton coaches reveal the depth of turmoil during dark era, The Age
• Politics, pokies and power: The secret meetings and messy exits among Carlton’s elite, The Age
• ‘Without fear or favour’: Ex-Carlton bosses disagree on Silvagni exit, The Age
• AFL great Robert Walls dies, aged 74, using voluntary assisted dying laws, The Age

Jon Ralph, Herald Sun

• I've had a Great Life, Herald Sun, 16 May 2025
• Fearless, ferocious and one of footy's most revered, Herald Sun, 16 May 2025
• It's time to stop the own goals, Herald Sun, 27 May 2025
• Slur Shock, Herald Sun, 18 August 2025
• Six Words behind AFL drugs policy, Herald Sun, 8 April 2025

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This award carries an $8,000 prize, courtesy of Champion Data.