THEFOOT BALLSACK INTERNSHIP PROGRAM CONTENTS

ABOUT THE PROGRAM 3

WHAT YOU GAIN 4

UNIVERSITIES and ORGANISATIONS 5 - 6

GRADUATE STORIES 7 - 27

APPLY NOW 31 ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The Football Sack is one of ’s premier football media organisations. Founded in 2010, TFS provides coverage and satire of the Hyundai A-League, West eld W-League, Socceroos and Matildas.

A multi-award winning organisation, TFS prides itself on focussing not only on providing quality content and satire to the Australian football public but also providing a pathway for talented young media professionals to make it in the industry.

Each year, TFS brings in a new crop of students from around Australia and New Zealand into its internship program. Currently 66 of these interns have turned into TFS Graduates, earning a dream job in the media, marketing and public relations industry.

The difference between a TFS internship and others in the industry is that the program revolves around you and developing you to make you attractive to prospective employers.

You won’t be making copies or fetching coffees, you’ll be at press conferences asking questions, or in the media box ling on deadline or even organising your own one-on-one interview with a star player.

A six month internship with TFS equips you with the tools, experience and contacts to get the job you want. From television and radio presenters to journalists and social media marketers, TFS has helped launch all types of careers in this industry and will tailor a program that helps you achieve the targets you set yourself.

Peruse this brochure and if working in the media, marketing and public relations industry is what you desire, please get in contact with us by the deadline.

Awards Football Podcast of the Year x3 Young Writer of the Year x2 Best Use of Social Media x2 Football NSW Media Organisation of the Year SCU Excellence in the Arts

3 WHAT YOU GAIN

An impressive portfolio of published writing material including one-on-one interviews, match day features, opinion pieces and various other works. You will be presented with briefs throughout the year to expand your writing styles and push your boundaries

Feedback and advice. Our editors ensure that no matter what style you write in, you will be ready for whatever the real world has to throw at you. After eight years of preparing interns for the working world, we know what needs to be done to get you that job and with your cooperation we will get you there

Media accreditation for the Hyundai A-League and West eld W-League as well as any other football-related events in your city: for example Soc- ceroos and Matildas matches and/or touring European teams. This will get you into the press box where you will sit side-by-side with the top sports journalists in the country, an invaluable learning tool and way to establish contacts in the industry

The network of TFS graduates, a club that stretches across the industry in almost any role you could possibly want. Previous graduates are available to mentor and guide you in an effort to help you get the full time role you want

Free T-Shirts*, business cards and invitations to our annual parties 4 UNIVERSITIES

Our interns have come from a number of universities including:

Curtin University Deakin University Grif th University, Brisbane Grif th University, Dublin La Trobe University Macquarie University Massey University, New Zealand Monash University Queensland University of Technology RMIT University Southern Cross University University of Adelaide University of Canberra University of Glamorgan, UK University of New South Wales University of Newcastle University of Notre Dame University of Queensland University of South Australia University of University of Technology Sydney University of Western Australia University of Wollongong Victoria University Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand Western Sydney University

5 ORGANISATIONS

Organisations our interns have gone to work for include:

9 News Gold Coast ABC ACT Brumbies Asian Football Confederation BetFair Australia BMX Victoria Brisbane Roar Capital Football Central Coast Mariners Crocmedia Fairfax Media Football Federation Australia Football Federation Victoria Football NSW Football Queensland FourFourTwo Australia Fox Sports Australia GOAL.com Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Manly Sea Eagles Minor League Baseball (USA) NBN News NewsCorp NineMSN NSW Institute of Sport NSW Rugby League Perform Sports Media Perth Glory Radio TAB SBS The World Game Sky Sports Southern Cross Austereo Sydney Olympic Sydney Swans TattsBet Walkley Foundation Wellington Phoenix Western Sydney Wanderers Yahoo7 6 GRADUATE STORIES

Michael Puterflam Digital Content Producer Football Federation Australia

There’s no doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t be where I am without The Football Sack. The funny part is that I nearly never came across the opportunity - what a mistake that would’ve been!

After a presenting an assessment in my university tutorial, my teacher recommend- ed applying for an internship with TFS. As soon as I read the description of what was involved with TFS I was hooked. I had worked in a community sports organisation before, was completing an internship at FFA while doing some freelance at Fox Sports, but I had never had the opportunity to be a journalist and attend A-League and W-League matches to write match reports and sit in on the press conferences.

The practical experience of creating content based on professional matches, players and coaches as well interacting with those personnel became vital to my development into a Digital Content Producer. Without myTFS internship I never would’ve been quali ed for the job that I’m now doing at Fox Sports Australia.

Besides the skills that I gained in my three months with TFS, I have now been exposed to a group of like-minded people (in TFS) who I can share and pitch ideas to. You never know where people are going to end up in thefuture, so it’s been great to make new contacts in my industry who I could work with down the line.

7 GRADUATE STORIES

David Jordan Digital, Media & Communications Manager Central Coast Mariners

I think what surprised me most when I started at the Football Sack was the level of professionalism both expected and exhibited. I initially approached it as just another Uni Internship but the way that TFS allowed me to feel like a working member of the media, attending matches, press conference and other media events quickly corrected my misgivings.

In my time covering Canberra United in the W-League, I not only learnt a huge deal about live coverage of sport, including tweeting, but also met people who would help me down the track and others that I would end up working with.

People can often get frustrated with internships and the fact that they are unpaid, however that was not the case here. The enormous bene ts of experience, networking, skill development and feedback are ample trade-offs, combined with being provided Media accreditation to professional football matches.

It took me less than a year from beginning my internship to becoming fully employed in the football industry, and The Football Sack played an enormous role. It introduced me to Russ Gibbs (also TFS alumni), who gave me my big opportunity to cover for him, and fostered a working relationship that paid dividends later on.

I can’t recommend the program enough to anyone coming through uni and looking to get involved in any facet of media.

8 GRADUATE STORIES

Jessica Csaszar Media & Digital Marketing Coordinator Western Sydney Wanderers

The Football Sack is an interning experience that you don’t want to miss out on.

I joined the Sack back in 2014 with absolutely no experience in journalism or media. All I knew was that I had a passion for football and willingness to work hard.

Before I knew it, I was thrown into the deep-end and was covering the W-League, A-League, Socceroos, Asian Champions League and even the Women’s World Cup.

The internship exposes you to situations and experiences that University simply can’t give you and prepares you for the real world – which sounds cheesy, but it’s so true.

TFS has a great support group led by Christian Layland and Matt Greenlaw who along with the past and present graduates help, guide and listen to some of the ideas you have.

The internship puts you into contact with some of the most important people in the industry, opens doors to opportunities that would have been out of your grasp and gives you a respect in the industry that no other internship will give to you.

It also teaches you important skills like time management, prioritizing, networking and lessons on making sure you stay true to yourself.

I honestly don’t know where I would be if I never had the privilege of interning at The Football Sack and I can't this internship highly enough.

9 GRADUATE STORIES

Madeline Riley Consumer Engagement Executive Sydney Swans

The Football Sack has been one of the most valuable experiences of my career. Joining TFS during my second year of university put me a step above others completing my course and prepared me for a career in sports media by allowing me to gain relevant experience in sports media.

The real-life experience I gained from TFS is something almost impossible to gain elsewhere. You’re treated as a real journalist and expected to act as one, which is extremely unique and bene cial while you’re studying or looking to enter the sports media industry.

You’ll nd the constructive feedback you receive week-in and week-out from the editors much more valuable than the feedback you get from a lecturer and you’ll learn to work to the deadline of a professional journalist rather than an assessment task.

Being in media boxes at games, attending press conferences and interviewing players and coaches allows you to network with other leaders in sports media and can lead to further opportunities, which I experienced in gaining an internship with the Newcastle Jets after covering them for TFS.

Not only can you network while you’re completing your internship, but TFS has a long list of successful graduates working in sports media that will be happy to help with gaining paid employment and providing encouraging references to help you get to where you want to be in your career.

I cannot recommend The Football Sack’s internship program enough - it’s the best thing you’ll ever do for your career.

10 GRADUATE STORIES

Tyson Scott Digital, Media & Communications Manager Central Coast Mariners

I can honestly say that without The Football Sack I would not have a career in football.

A bold statement, but the introduction to covering the Hyundai A-League with The Football Sack not only allowed me to network with people who would lead to my full time employment in football but it also provided invaluable hands on experience that would be accessi- ble nowhere else but The Football Sack.

From my rst phone interview, right up until now, I am still blown away by the professionalism and quality in which The Football Sack operates. They live by their mantra of “grabbing the A-League by the balls” and are one of the best media development channels in Australian sport. I was made aware of the opportunity with The Football Sack whilst studying at the University of Newcastle and have since gone from contributing to their website, to interning with the Central Coast Mariners and now holding the position as the club’s media manager.

I could not believe the access I was granted whilst being a part of The Football Sack. With help from the Central Coast Mariners, as a student I was attending press conferences, interviewing players and given the platform to have my work seen by the captive football audience of the Hyundai A-League.

I can’t thank The Football Sack enough for giving me my rst taste of the industry and I would urge anyone seriously considering a career in football to do what they can to get involved.

11 GRADUATE STORIES

Brad Hutchings Content & Engagement Executive Betfair Australia

I joined The Football Sack as an intern through their association with Victoria University back in September 2013. I was just weeks away from nishing a Bachelor of Communications with little idea where I would end up after. I always wanted to get into sports journalism but never had a proper pathway into the industry. That all changed when I joined TFS. I was welcomed into the TFS family as the Melbourne Victory correspondent covering A-League and W-League. While most kids in my class bagged internships running coffees and ling paperwork at advertising and PR rms, my internship had me in press conferences with Ange Postecoglou and on a weekly basis while seated next to Melbourne’s journalism heavyweights.

The Sack gave me the chance to broaden my skills and gather a wealth of contacts that has seen me reach the ultimate dream, a full-time job in the sports media industry. Since leaving uni I have joined Football Federation Victoria as a reporter for NPL Victoria, had a stint writing for News Limited and appeared on Melbourne sports radio station SEN as a W-League correspondent. All that led me to my current role with Betfair Australia where I run our social media and content blog which allows me to get paid to write about the A-League with an opportunity to expand to other sports.

The experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met are all incredible. From sitting in Postecoglou’s last ever press conference as Victory manager and being able to write the name ‘Alessandro Del Piero’ into a match report for a game I was covering to being seated just metres away from World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi and covering Harry Kewell’s last ever professional game, I got to do all that as a uni intern. Sure beats making paper copies I can tell you that. To be a part of a group of writers based all across Australia who ultimately share the same passion as you is another huge advantage. For anyone who has a passion for football and a desire to enter the sports media game, you would be silly for not want- ing to join The Sack. As I sit here in my high rise of ce building right in the heart of the Melbourne CBD writing this, I can safely say I wouldn’t be here if not for TFS. 12 GRADUATE STORIES

Christopher Hills Investigator & Conciliator at the Australian Human Rights Commission

Your degree, and the marks you receive, are not worth much. For those aspiring to work in the media, there are two things you must do. First, and most importantly, you must gain as much practical experience as you can, it’s important that you practice your trade, often. If you can show an employer your technical artistry, insight, and media acumen in a polished body of published work, they won’t care if you have a degree or not. Secondly, and this only works to complement your portfolio, you must network with people within the industry. Chase any opportunity you can (paid or not). With that all in mind, I would strongly recommend working with The Football Sack, especially if you want to build a career in sports media.

At TFS you will be given serious reporting responsibilities. This means access to the media box on game day, interviewing players, and attending live press conferences. Your work assignments and articles will be varied and you will be challenged. If you have a credible idea you want to pursue, TFS will back you. At the same time, you won’t be left to sink, and will receive guidance and feedback to help you in your professional development. During my time with TFS, I had over 30 articles published, contributed to their twitter reporting and even spent some time as sub-editor. Highlights included being fortunate enough to interview David Beckham and Ljubo Milicevic, and being sworn at in a press-conference by an un-named manager. On the back of my work with TFS, and the contacts I made, I went on to contribute to Men of Football, Newcastle Jets, Perth Glory, Western Sydney Wanderers and Football Federation Australia. I now work for the Federal Government and while football has nothing to do with my job, the skills I gained during my time with TFS are integral to my position.

I can’t speak highly enough of the opportunities TFS gave me. The organisation is a great success story and has strong networks with many of its alumni, who have gone on to land major jobs in various media roles. Do yourself a favour and ght hell for leather for a internship with TFS. It’s a great way to build a serious portfolio. You won’t regret it. 13 GRADUATE STORIES

Dave Betros-Matthews Senior Communications O cer UK Department of Health

I started writing for The Football Sack in 2010 while studying at the University of Newcastle, writing match reports and previews, as well as tactical analysis and features.

It was the perfect chance to see whether I could combine my passion with potential work. While it obviously helps to build a portfolio of published work it also gave me skills in writing to a deadline, working independently as well as hitting a certain style for a particular audience.

The Football Sack is a great organisation run by young people who are passionate about the game and about giving budding football writers the chance to get real experience and opportunities in the industry.

I’ve de nitely used the skills I gained writing at The Sack in my current job - I’m now working at the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture in the media unit. It’s a busy role and includes writing media releases, speeches, features and liaising with journalists and our Minister’s of ce.

The Sack was not only a great opportunity to build up a portfolio of published work, but also to be part of a network of young people working in media. I’d de nitely recommend anyone wanting to get into football media, sports media, or related elds like communication and PR to get involved.

14 GRADUATE STORIES

James Clark Producer RadioTAB UBET Breakfast Show

I never thought a chance email and chat with Christian Layland from The Football Sack would change my life for the better. After a great referral from Neil Sherwin at Back Page Football I started writing and live tweeting A-League games for The Football Sack which led to more hard work, eventually winding up as full-time producer of the UBET Breakfast Show hosted by John McCoy, Peter Psaltis & Paul Sawtell as well as being on-air everyday doing what I love!

An unashamed sports nut, I particularly love the World Game and prior to becoming the Breakfast Show Producer I worked casually with the station as the A-League expert providing previews and reviews.

I also write a weekly column for the UBET website on the A-League, have written online and social content for ABC Grandstand Digital, FourFourTwo Australia, Football Federation Australia, The Football Sack and the UK Telegraph. In fact I was chosen as the Telegraph’s only Australian rep for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

I’m excited and passionate about growing our show and RadioTAB via various means such as the new UBET APP, our AudioBoom Channel and social media to expand our national audience from simply listening via the old “wireless” and car radio.

I’m not kidding when I say I’m still excited each and every shift. I believe I’ll never lose that exciting buttery in the stomach feeling when that on-air button lights up on the desk and we start talking sports. I still pinch myself every day at how lucky I am to have been given a chance to learn from the best in the business and realise my dream.

15 GRADUATE STORIES

Kirsty Lawrence Journalist Fairfax Media

My experience with The Football Sack was very bene cial and one that helped propel my journalism career forward. I was studying at Massey University in Wellington doing a postgraduate diploma in journalism when I applied to be a writer for The Football Sack.

As I was still a journalism student, con dence was something that I was lacking but this experience de nitely helped cultivate that. Having to organise player interviews, attend press conferences and ask questions surrounded by older, more experienced journalists was something that made me grow as a person.

Doing my internship helped show I had an interest in sport and when I applied for my rst full time role at the Taupo Times working for Fairfax Media, one of the positions they wanted lled was a sports reporter.

Due to the experience I had writing for The Football Sack as well as other sports writing I had done it made me a strong applicant and I was successful in gaining the role.

My advice for up and coming reporters looking at doing sports reporting would be to get as much experience as you can possibly get. Become an expert in sports that hold a large interest to you and apply for any opportunity that holds any interest to you as you never know where it may lead.

16 GRADUATE STORIES

John Chammas Media Manager NSW Rugby League

Jumping on board with The Football Sack in my second year of university certainly helped me in getting where I am today.

You gain so much experience through opportunities like The Football Sack: walking into press conferences, interviewing various talents and meeting new people, it’s all a part of growing as a journalist. As a edgling journalist, it’s some of the most exciting experiences of your life.

When I received my rst job [at the Manly Sea Eagles] I was told that my commitment and willingness to work was a major factor in their decision. They had told me that the hours I had put in without pay was something they were very impressed with. It’s very important not to think about the money at such an early stage. I did unpaid work for six months for four different outlets. Hard work truly does pay off in the end.

Two years after commencing at Manly, I was then approached by NSWRL who offered me a similar role. I jumped at the opportunity and now nd myself with bene ts that people can only dream of.

The best advice I can give to those aspiring to become sports journalist is to put in the hard yards early and be con dent with yourself and your writing ability. It’s important to connect with people, no matter who they may be. You just never know where you might meet them again.

Opportunities like The Football Sack shouldn’t be taken lightly. Treat it as if you were writing for the Sydney Morning Herald. Impress! Believe me, having TFS on your resume is great, especially when you can count on somebody for an encouraging reference.

17 GRADUATE STORIES

Josh Bennett Senior Digital Producer Perform Sports Media

I started with The Football Sack in 2013 from Newcastle University as the Newcastle Jets reporter and immediately it opened doors for me within the football media industry. I was quickly able to develop relationships with A-League clubs and subsequently picked up writing opportunities with both Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers. Although this work was unpaid, it provided valuable experience and most importantly helped establish myself within the media landscape. Within three months of starting with the Football Sack I was able to pick up paid freelance work for leading football magazine FourFourTwo. Further, I managed to also gain paid work with Sportal Australia as a match reporter for A-League, Y-League and W-League matches which were published on the of cial Football Federation Australia network. Within nine months of starting at The Football Sack I was fortunate enough to be offered full-time employment with Perform Sports Media. I have been working with Perform for the last 15 months as a network editor for Football Federation Australia’s digital properties covering the A-League, W-League, Socceroos, Matildas and all other relevant Australian football.

I would highly recommend The Football Sack as a terri c avenue for aspiring sports media professionals to gain experience and simply get your foot in the door. You cannot underestimate the value of doing work experience, volunteering for media duties and helping out where you can. The Football Sack puts you in contact with some fantastic people who can help kick start a potential career in sports media. The most poignant thing I have learned from working in football is that you need to work extremely hard to get yourself an opportunity. Volunteer for as many things as you can, write, blog, tweet, do whatever you can to improve your skill set and get your name out there.

18 GRADUATE STORIES

Melanie Dinjaski Journalist & Sports Producer Nine Digital: Wide World of Sports

Before the nal year of my dual degree in Journalism and Arts I was keen to build on my experience to give myself the best chance possible to get a job out of university. I sent my CV to apply for The Football Sack. This was my chance to get my name out there and develop my sports writing skills.

First I started going to Queensland State League matches. During the QSL season I also attended my rst professional sports training sessions visiting A-League clubs Brisbane Roar and the now defunct Gold Coast United. It was here that I was able to interview guys like Matt McKay, Erik Paartalu, and Ange Postecoglou. For the 2011/12 season I was at every Brisbane Roar home game. I sat in the press box with my little laptop, writing match reports and making contacts at halftime over the FFA-funded party pie and sausage roll media spread.

During my time writing for TFS, the guys gave me feedback on my pieces, helped me extend my professional network and were the ones who convinced me to get Twitter. I graduated uni and a few months later I was on my way to Sydney to work for Yahoo!7 as an online sports jour- nalist. Two years later I was offered a position at Fox Sports Australia and I've been there ever since.

19 GRADUATE STORIES

Michael Flynn Freelance Football Multimedia Specialist

The best career decision I ever made was tossing in my lot with the The Football Sack in 2012.

In truth, I never gave serious consideration to being a journalist. Instead I graduated bleary-eyed and perpetually hungover from Queensland University of Technology earlier this century with majors in the wank-heavy disciplines of Advertising and Marketing. This was, in retrospect, a mistake.

I quickly grew jaded with the institutionalised agency rigmarole of ‘selling bullshit to arseholes’ in exchange for booze heavy shindigs surrounded by the sycophantic shit-eating smiles of spray-tanned sell-outs.

Unemployed and spending too much time playing Football Manager, TFS took a gamble on my dishevelled and disaffected soul and I soon found myself reporting on Queensland State League, A-League and W-League games armed with little more than rudimentary grammar, spelling and punctuation and a base understanding of the offside rule.

From this humble beginning I cultivated a wide range of industry contacts and built a portfolio that has, in combination with a heretofore surprising work ethic that still confounds my parents, led me to become a full-time freelance football multimedia specialist.

Now I have cultivated a range of clients from clubs (some pro, others semi-pro, but most exceedingly amateur), assorted magazines of varying journalistic quality and the game’s governing bodies at state and national level.

I still pinch myself that I make my living by talking, writing, thinking, sleeping, eating and even excreting football. In short, a role with TFS will not only will give you the experience you need to further your career but also will whiten your teeth, strengthen your core and remove unsightly acne blemishes from your face, neck, back and arse cheeks. I give them ten thumbs up! 20 GRADUATE STORIES

Nick Houghton Multimedia Journalist SBS The World Game

Nothing is more important for young media professionals than rst-hand experience. The opportunity to conduct interviews, create angles, build contacts and le copy to deadline will provide the key skills required for a career as a journalist more so than any university lecture or textbook. This is exactly what makes The Football Sack stand out.

I have written stories for major regional and metropolitan newspapers and would not have had the opportunity without gaining the industry experience I did while I was writing for The Football Sack. The Football Sack provided me with a platform to advance my writing and media skills while training me to work to the pressures of deadline media. Equally important is the network of contacts and friends around Australia who I have met because of The Football Sack. These people have become supporters of my career and close friends. The Football Sack offers young aspiring media professionals with far more than rst-hand experience and an opportunity to write. It provides a support network which will help you take the step into a career in media.

Paddy Kilmurray Sports Presenter NBN News

I work in a hectic environment. Finding, ling and presenting are three things which depict a day in my job as a sports reporter/presenter. I need to work with speed and while accuracy is paramount if the content doesn't make it to air then there's no point showing up in the rst place. Filing on tight deadlines for The Football Sack, speci cally on match day, taught me skills I transferred into my daily job and that will stay with me throughout my career. 21 GRADUATE STORIES

Bryce Conway Digital Marketing Manager Pryzm Agency

My internship with The Football Sack was an experience I’ll never forget. It allowed me the opportunity not only to broaden my knowledge of football and develop my writing skills but also to meet people in the media industry and develop connections. Being able to experience match day at an A-League club writing articles and live Tweeting in the media box and asking questions to big name managers including former Barcelona player and A-League Championship winning coach Guillermo Amor, was a real privilege.

Through the internship I met and became friends with the Perth Glory media team which included Harley Mitaros, the Managing Director of Perth based Social Media and Digital Marketing Company Pryzm. Harley was impressed with mywork on Twitter and the articles I was producing for The Football Sack so hired me on a freelance basis to help do the same for one of the company’s clients, Perth Glory. After working on a freelance basis for a little while, I was offered a full-time role as a Social Media Marketer. This opportunity would not have come about without the internship with The Football Sack.

I can’t thank Christian Layland enough for giving me the opportunity to work in the industry and the rest of the TFS family for being so helpful along the way. I highly recommend this internship to any student looking to enter the eld of journalism, writing or social media due to the skills and knowledge you gain, but also the connection you make through working in the football media realm.

22 GRADUATE STORIES

Clem Tito Journalist FourFourTwo Australia

I joined The Football Sack at the age of 21 at the beginning of the 2015/16 A-League season when the opportunity with the Sack came up while I was at university (Deakin, Burwood).

It was de nitely the biggest breakthrough in my experiences and I’m not sure where I would be today if I hadn’t joined the Sack. I genuinely felt all the hard work I’d put in for three years had nally got me somewhere when I was taken on board.

Throughout the season I covered every major football tournament an established journalist would do: from A-League and W-League to AFC Champions League and even World Cup Qualifying while being able to speak to proli c athletes in the process. With hands on work aside, the opportunity to improve your writing and have your work exposed was amazing and even better getting constructive feedback on articles.

The most important thing about the Sack would be guys like Christian Layland and Matt Greenlaw, these colleagues actually work in the industry and have vast knowledge and skills to know exactly what to advise when you have a question.

As I write this it hasn’t even been a year since I joined yet I’m already at FourFourTwo Magazine, I’ve established contacts and my phone has exploded with numbers. I’ve always had a strong work ethic but at the end of the day The Football Sack gave me the opportunity of being able to demonstrate the potential I always believed I had and it’s unbelievable looking back. I can’t express how grateful I am for the trust they put into me.

23 GRADUATE STORIES

George Vlotis Multimedia Video Journalist NineMSN

I wasn’t sure how I’d break into the media industry. Heading into the back end of my degree at UTS I had a range of modest internships under my belt however none that really asked enough of, or challenged me. Initially I thought this was how most experience programs simply worked, and that for now this was the order of things until I was able to attain employment somewhere (somehow). Sadly, for many students this is the norm - how lucky I was to have been selected as an intern for The Football Sack.

Thrown in the deep end? Try thrown in the ccean! What an experience my year was: travelling across NSW to report on games, interviewing players and managers, attending press conferences and creating weekly feature pieces formed the basic structure of my time with The Football Sack. It became an invaluable routine that re ned my journalistic process and honed my literary repertoire.

However, what really sticks with me were the experiences and opportunities that I found myself in as a result of this constant exposure. I was offered the opportunity to write three articles for the Sydney Morning Herald which were subsequently published in print and online, I was approached by the FFA for part time employment, and made countless media connections - all owed to the tangible exposure The Football Sack offers.

Ultimately, through this journalistic growth I was soon fortunate enough to nd full-time employment in the media industry with the Nine Entertainment Company resulting in the early (and somewhat emotional) closure of my tenure at The Football sack, of which I have no doubt played the integral role in my employability.

I cannot recommend The Football Sack internship enough and the invaluable guidance offered by Christian Layland and Matthew Greenlaw as both mentors and leaders.

24 GRADUATE STORIES

Jasmine Ceni Media Sales Assistant WIN Corporation

I started my internship with The Football Sack in 2011, the year I began my Journalism degree at Deakin University. I saw this as a great opportunity to have hands on experience in the eld of journalism and also to make as many contacts as I could in the eld of media. Initially, I began covering Melbourne Victory women in the West eld W -League. This enhanced my writing ability and gave me the chance to express myself in different ways; as well as the standard match report I had the chance to explore different writing styles which I had free reign over. I also gained experience in interviewing coaches and players post match.

This then lead to the chance to report on the A-League and also the Victorian Premier League. I can con dently say that without the internship offered to me by TFS, I would not be where I am today. Throughout all my job interviews, employers were more interested in my volunteering and interning work than my degree. The hands on experience gives you the knowledge in the eld that you need to take with you in your career. As always, when starting out in the eld, you're not going to instantly be the best. However, the advice and assistance I was given by everyone at TFS was unforgettable. Not only my writing, but my con dence also improved and I nally believed I was good enough at what I was doing. I knew that this was what I wanted to do with my career and I'm glad I had the chance to nd myself though interning at TFS. I met many people in the industry which led to a number of other internships in the same eld, but I de nitely owe everything I learnt to my time at TFS.

I made many contacts and friends during my time interning, most of whom I still keep in contact with and some who even helped me achieve my rst job in the media industry after university. I would recommend interning at TFS for any university student looking for a career in media. Not only do you get to do what you love - watch football AND write about it - but you also get the hands on experience that all future employers look for. 25 GRADUATE STORIES

Luke Robbs Journalist West Wyalong Advocate

Finding a way to get practical writing experience in order to build your portfolio is the single most important thing you can do to transition successfully from university to work life, and that’s what The Football Sack gives you in spades.

I joined The Football Sack in 2014 through its ongoing relationship with The University of Newcastle while in my second year of a Bachelor of Communication degree. Covering sport was an ambition I had held for a long time and The Football Sack Internship Program allowed me to achieve that on a national level.

TFS gave me the chance to develop industry contacts directly resulting in the opportunity to spend 12-months working as a media intern at the Newcastle Jets. The contacts also allowed me to have my work published in the Western Sydney Wanderers’magazine as well as cover the AFC Asian Champions League and the 2015 Women’s World Cup.

My time at TFS is largely responsible for me getting to my currentposition as a journalist for the West Wyalong Advocate newspaper where I cover not only sport but all facets of news. I also co-host a local radio show covering grass roots sport, including football, rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules and netball.

The Football Sack is run by a group of industry professionals that are genuine about helping young writers progress their skills. They’re also a great bunch people to be associated with, which is why I continue to contribute my time to TFS whenever I can.

People who set out with the ambition to be sport writers often comment on how passionate and how well they know sport. But unless they have the writing experience to back it up they’re just another face in the crowd. That’s exactly what TFS provides people, a chance to improve their writing in the real world. Getting out there and practising your writing is daunting, but having a portfolio to show at the end of your degree is far more important than what your results were and gives you an edge in the job market. 26 GRADUATE STORIES

Sam Murphy Membership, Events & Ticketing O cer Wellington Phoenix

My experience with TFS was as ful lling as scoring the penalty to send your team through to the next round of the Cup! I was involved as a Sponsorship Consultant during the 2014 World Cup Podcast where I was challenged and had a rsthand lesson in the importance of perseverance and commitment, both key to working in football. I received sales and negotiation experience that I could not have gotten so quickly elsewhere and it was special to know that my work contributed to a special project.

After gaining further experience in the industry working in major events and media with organisations such as English Football League club, Mans eld Town in the UK as well as Football Queensland, I've recently taken up the position of Membership, Events and Ticketing Of cer at Wellington Phoenix where I'm involved in a wide range of areas including membership campaignsand input into Hyundai A-League match days.

During my time at TFS, I encountered many other ambitious people and this challenged me to go further with my career and chase my goals of developing an international football career. TFS assisted me in growing a varied set of skills that helped make me a competitive employment candidate.

Originally from Lismore in Northern NSW, I studied at Southern Cross University whilst getting valuable experience with TFS. Having been in the position myself trying to break into the industry, I believe it is vital to get as much voluntary experience as early as possible in as many different areas as possible.

Don't be afraid to give your time as this is a fantastic opportunity to meet new people in the industry and show them what you've got!

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Jack Quigley Teamwear Manager Sportspower

I’m fortunate enough to have been involved in The Football Sack since its very humble beginnings. I went to the same university as co-founder of TFS, Christian Layland in Northern NSW and our mutual love for the round ball game soon led to our paths crossing. ‘Layles’ had just started a blog with his longtime pal, Matt Greenlaw, writing match reports and opinion pieces about the Hyundai A-League and Australian football and I had recently completed a unit in my journalism Degree which had taught me how to use the University’s radio studio equipment. I suggested that they consider recording a podcast as a way to engage people who didn’t have the time to sit down and read their articles. Christian loved the idea and offered me the chance to co-host the podcast with him. Five years, many new long-time friendships and three FFDU Podcast of the Year awards later, I’m glad I accepted that offer.

The Football Sack is a testament to the most basic, and yet somehow still underused sales strategy: ask what people want, and give them more of that, and less of the stuff they don’t want. Right from the start, TFS was not afraid to ask what people thought of us. They told us: be less television analysis, more pub-with-your-mates analysis. We did. Cover less English Premier League and more Hyundai A-League. We did. And the numbers of listeners grew. We carved a market niche of our own and used that point of difference to grow the website and have reaped the rewards ever since. The Football Sack landed me my rst major full-time job, working with a large regional credit union to develop a banking brand speci cally for football fans because the CEO was a fan of The Football Sack and our story of punching above our weight. It was there that I learned the marketing skills which, combined with my experience with The Football Sack, eventually lead to me becoming Marketing Manager for one of Australia’s largest Registered Training Organisations before moving to my current role. I’m proud to be just one of a long and growing list of TFS graduates who have gone on to great things after earning their start on the back of being presented with the opportunity to show their potential. 28 GRADUATE STORIES

James Mahon Senior PR & Social Media Manager Ubisoft

I rst started writing for The Football Sack in 2010 during my last year of studies at the University of Newcastle. Naturally being a football fanatic, I jumped at the opportunity to be able to complete match reports and get valuable experience in the sports industry.

One of the aspects I fondly remember of The Football Sack was that despite being a raw university student, they still treated me as a proper journalist! I will always appreciate that I was encouraged to pitch my own stories and write on the footballing issues that were important to me. This kind of responsibility is very rare for anyone at the early stages of their career.

Looking back, having the ability to build up a strong writing portfolio whilst at university, having the experience of attending media events and interviewing with high pro le athletes is something that gave me con dence when starting my professional career and moving into more senior roles.

Now I no longer work in the sports industry but nd myself in a eld which is just as fast-moving and challenging. I currently work for Ubisoft as a PR, Community and Social Media Manager, and implement communication strategies across some of the world’s most recognised videos games such as Assassin’s Creed.

For anyone thinking of joining The Football Sack I can’t recommend it enough. You can’t put a value on joining a community of like-minded people and write about your passion, it’s a great way to build up an impressive resume, make friends and learn from each other.

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With a track record of getting the best out of up-and-coming journalists, The Football Sack’s internship program provides a professional set-up which can be critical in making the step into paid work. This opportunity will also give each intern the chance to make key contacts in the working media.

The Football Sack prides itself on preparing journalists for the working world and, unlike many internship opportunities, this program places you as a working journalist on match days allowing you to get valuable experience in the eld which all employers demand.

As well as access to the media scene, selection as a TFS intern means joining an established network of young industry professionals who can share experiences, guide you through tough times and keep you in the loop for job opportunities.

This season The Football Sack is looking for one intern per club for the duration of the length of the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 season (11 October 2019 to 17 May 2020).

The intern will be the designated reporter for A-League and W-League home games during the 2019/20 season. Expectations will be two to four articles per week.

Interns must have their own laptop or regular access to a laptop for game day and a reasonable knowledge/understanding of .

All interested applicants please forward a resume to [email protected] with one to three examples of work by the deadline supplied by your university lecturer.

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