Being an AFL Photojournalist

I'd been a photographer for about 18 months, covering predominantly surfing in my home state of South Australia - with great success. Having played Australian Rules Football myself for a number of years, I then decided to test my photographic acumen at professional sports level - AFL training, at the two local clubs here in Adelaide - The Adelaide Crows, and Port Adelaide Power.

My first big break came in a matter of weeks, where I captured an image of Daryl Wakelin wearing a newly devised headgear, and returning to top level football after a dramatic head injury sustained weeks before. As luck would have it, Port Adelaide Power used the image on their AFL Club website. This was back in the year 2003, towards the conclusion of the football season.

The Power's first AFL Final at home was against the Sydney Swans in 2003, and as the club's appointed photographer could not cover the game for the club, I was asked by the club's representative Daniel Bryant to cover the match for the club as their Official AFL Photographer. I'd never covered an AFL match before, so to do so representing the club was both a tremendous honour, and a huge step in my experience as a photographer.

In parallel, the AFANA's Rob De Santos enquired whether I would like to represent the AFANA as their photojournalist, an offer I was thrilled to accept. My first AFL match was the Adelaide Crows versus West Coast Eagles Final, at AAMI Stadium. The very next day I represented the  Port Adelaide Power in their Final against the Swans. Overall, I was slightly over-awed by the occasion, but in the main was extremely plesed with my performance, photographically speaking. The only hiccup was that I found that even as an Official photographer, clubs don't warm to photojournalists when they don't win matches. Personally, I thought images of a shock defeat could be used as a motivational tool for a club, but I guess players and officials are'nt to know I was'nt a newspaper media photojournalist.

In 2004 I then placed all my efforts into covering the entire AFL season, and I was personally extremely satisfied with my performance. I became quite close to some of the AFL clubs, who'd see me most matches, and close to a couple of AFL players. The culmination of my seasons efforts resulted in coverage of the AFL Finals in Melbourne, including the AFL Grand Final at the MCG - my first ever time at the famous and hallowed ground. During the season I worked a number of assignments for the Power and the Crows, to assist their marketing and promotional campaigns. My images were not only published on the AFANA website, but also in extensive club publications here in Adelaide.

Season 2004 was memorable for me as a photographer, in several aspects. Firstly, my images were in some small way assisting the promotion of the sport internationally thanks to the incredible efforts of the AFANA and it's staff. Secondly, the AFANA's images I had taken featured in the now historic Port Adelaide Power's inaugural Premiership magazine. From a personal perspective, the Adelaide Crows did use my services extensively, and I was honoured to assist in the exclusive creation of player Calendar images, for the clubs 2005 season marketing campaign for its members. I was able to work closely with the players and the club, to deliver a unique and rewarding glimpse into the lives of some of the game's greatest players. I have carried the relationship built with the club and players to the present day. I also was honoured to be selected to cover the Adelaide Crows Club Champion Awards, for their annual Members Magazine - won by Brownlow Medallist and Crows captain Mark Riciutto.

Potentially the biggest coup for me was the Walkley Magazine asked me to pen an editorial regarding my work as a freelance photographer with the AFL for the AFANA, but because I am not a paid photojournalist, the Walkleys declined to publish my editorial. I wish I was being re-imbursed for my efforts! However, my involvement in the game has opened other doors, albeit sporadically.

In 2005 I developed my photographic skills by working in the Whitsunday Islands as a full time resort photographer for 8 months, a wonderfull assignment where I met many people, and further honed my skills both as a photographer, and as a person with highly developing interpersonal skills. When the assignment concluded in August, I returned to Adelaide and immediately recommenced my work with the AFANA, and covered the AFL Finals series, including the 2005 historic AFL Grand Final between the Sydney Swans and the West Coast Eagles. It was a great honour to meet and engage people like Paul Kelly (Brownlow Medallist and former Swans captain), Ron Barassi, Barry Round and other greats of our game.

The season again culminated with the Adelaide Crows again asking me to cover as a photographer their Club Champion Awards for their Members Magazine, where Simon Goodwin won the club's highest honour.

In 2006, I temporarly moved to Melbourne, and worked as an employee of the 2006 Commonwealth Games as a Photographer Manager/Supervisor at the Melbourne Aquatic Centre. Although working at games time around 18 hours per day, I did get to work first hand with some of the world's finest Sports Photographers, including Ray Kennedy, Gregg Porteous and Michael Dodge, and others too many to include here. Elite sports photographers at an event like this work hundreds of times harder and under more pressure than anyone could imagine, second only to Photographer/Media Managers and Supervisors at an event like this. I also got to meet and work with many elite athletes from the world over. Apparently, I got a pretty good report card from agencies like Getty Images, News Ltd, Fairfax, AP, AAP etc.

After the games, I spent around 2 months travelling around Australia, and have only just returned to Adelaide to continue my work as a photojournalist for the AFANA at AFL matches. I'd also been fortunate to recruit the services of a journalist in Melbourne, to increase coverage of the AFL for the AFANA. I'm quietly confident in the efforts and performance of Barry Kennedy in Melbourne, and very much look forward to working with him again next time I'm in Melbourne.

So on that note I am very much looking forward to covering again the AFL season for the AFANA in season 2006. Armed with a far greater appreciation of sports photojournalism, and well established contacts at some AFL clubs, I look forward to again assisting the fine efforts of Rob De Santos and his staff at the AFANA in the promotion and growing coverage of matches on an international basis.

I'd like to thank Rob at the AFANA and all the contributors there who's efforts are largely unheralded outside the AFANA; Patrick Keane at the AFL for demonstrating his support of the AFANA and my work as an AFL Photojournalist; The AFL Clubs who support my work in promotion of the game beyond Australia's shores; The Adelaide Crows for their ongoing support and faith in my work; and most of all the fans of the game, of which you are one, and the local fans at games who often offer words and thoughts of encouragement.

Bring on Finals 2006!