9News celebrates major wins at AFL Media Awards – 9News is proud to announce that several of its team members were recognised at last night’s AFL Media Awards, celebrating excellence in sports journalism.
Xander McGuire took home the prestigious Clinton Grybas Award for Best Emerging Talent, named in honour of the late Clinton Grybas, one of Australia’s most esteemed sports commentators. McGuire’s award-winning work included:
- An exclusive investigation into the AFL’s probe into the behaviour of North Melbourne’s Tarryn Thomas.
- A feature story on Carlton’s Matthew Kennedy.
- A profile on delisted Western Bulldogs rookie Dominic Bedendo.
On receiving the award, Xander McGuire said:
“It’s a huge honour to be given the Clinton Grybas Award. I was only five years old when Clinton passed, but his legacy as a fantastic media performer and, as is mentioned in my family, a great Collingwood man, makes this all the more special. A huge thank you to the Director of News at Nine, Hugh Nailon, Tony Jones, and Clint Stanaway for all the opportunities they’ve afforded me. Also, a big thanks to the rest of the team—Nat Yoannidis, Trent Kniese, Nathan Currie, and of course, Tom Morris, whose guidance in news-breaking over the last 12 months has been fantastic. And last, but certainly not least, to my parents, who have been my biggest supporters, fostering a love of footy and journalism all my life.”
Tom Morris, an industry veteran, cemented his reputation with two major awards:
- Best News or Feature Reporting (TV/Radio/Digital)
- Best Online News or Feature Reporting
Morris was recognised for his in-depth stories, including:
- Exclusive reporting on Christian Petracca’s brutal injury and his disillusionment with the Melbourne Football Club’s direction.
- Breaking news on the 18-week suspension of North Melbourne’s Tarryn Thomas and his secret meeting with St Kilda.
- Exposing Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson’s verbal tirade towards St Kilda players during a pre-season match.
- An exclusive on Tom Barrass’ potential departure from the West Coast Eagles.
Tom Morris reflected on the wins, saying:
“These awards are a testament to the incredible team I work with every day. The trust and freedom I’ve been given to pursue stories that matter are why I’m able to dig deep into the AFL world. A huge thank you to Hugh Nailon, Tony Jones and everyone at 9News for their unwavering support. The stories behind these awards were truly collaborative efforts, and I’m extraordinarily proud of the work we’ve done together. It’s a privilege to work in footy and at Channel 9. I’m incredibly grateful.”
Hugh Nailon, Director of 9News Melbourne, also shared his thoughts on the team’s success:
“It’s fantastic to see Xander and Tom recognised for their outstanding contributions to AFL journalism. Xander’s remarkable rise is the result of his hard work, and willingness to learn and develop his craft, while Tom continues to set the benchmark for news breaking and in-depth reporting. These awards highlight the strength of our newsroom and the quality of our team’s work. Congratulations to both, and to everyone at 9News who helps make this possible.”
9News will continue to provide the highest level of sports coverage and breaking news in Aussie Rules Football and beyond.
Media Release – Nine
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9News celebrates major wins at AFL Media Awards
