Emerging sports journalist Chris Kourtis honoured with local footy media award

Emerging sports writer Chris Kourtis was recognised for his sum of the Eastern Football Netball League, taking location the Clinton Grybas Media Award astatine the EFNL Chandler Medal Night.

Kourtis started covering the EFNL arsenic an intern successful 2023 arsenic portion of his sports journalism studies astatine Deakin University and has stayed connected arsenic a volunteer the past two seasons.

“It’s a monolithic honour, truly bully to get designation particularly successful a volunteer relation and for it to beryllium adjacent voted arsenic well means a lot,” helium told Neos Kosmos.

“It makes each of the work that goes into the play worth it and it’s besides very encouraging to spot that I’m moving successful the close absorption with what I’m doing.”

Like you spot with an AFL broadcast Kourtis and co will present pregame coverage, commentate the game, behaviour interviews and present post-match analysis.

The young sports writer was recognised for his match-day commentary, investigation and much work with the EFNL. Photo: Supplied/Field of View Photography

There is besides preview and reappraisal podcasts during the week.

“I’ve ever wanted to bash sport media, whether it was similar commentating oregon photos… I conscionable ever wanted to bash something with sports,” helium said.

“I conscionable figured I’m reasonably bully astatine writing – well I similar to think so – I’ll springiness sport journalism a ace and yeah, it’s been great.”

Through uni Kourtis has reported connected soccer, Australian soccer and the English Premier League, sailing, AFL and section footy similar helium does now.

A Hawthorn supporter successful the AFL, Arsenal successful the EPL, PAOK for the Greek Super League, Western United successful the A-League, which helium said leaves him successful a tough spot now, arsenic well arsenic Heidelberg United successful the NPL, Kourtis has loved watching Heidelberg’s success this year.

Chris Kourtis received the Clinton Grybas Media Award astatine the EFNL Chandler Medal Night. Photo: Supplied/Field of View Photography

While soccer has ever been his favourite, covering the EFNL has grown his fondness of Aussie rules footy.

“I ever thought I’d yet spell and bash soccer and bash commentary for the NPL Victoria and each that stuff but the much I’ve done the footy and the EFNL, the much I similar it,” helium said.

“Although soccer is still my passion, it’s still my favourite sport, covering the footy I recovered it a batch much absorbing conscionable due to the fact that it’s much similar quicker pace, there’s much going on.

“(In the future) I’d emotion to bash what I’m doing now, but truly with immoderate nonrecreational league whether that’s the AFL, whether it’s the A-League, could beryllium the NBL, if it’s thing progressive successful sport similar commentary, interviews, stats, people journalism… due to the fact that that’s where my passionateness is.”