Geoff Christian
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Hugh Christian (1934 - 7 November 1998) was a leading Australian rules football
writer and radio broadcaster covering the Australian Football League
and West Australian Football League
.
Geoff Christian began his career as a junior football writer by writing for The West Australian
newspaper as a teenager in 1954. In 1961 he became Chief Football writer for the paper; a position he held for more than a quarter of a century. In the late eighties, he retired and concentrated on radio work.
He died in November 1998 following a long illness.
’s Saturday Sportstalk program for a period of 14 years prior to his death in November 1998.
To honor Christian’s contribution to ABC Sport, management struck a medal in his honor. Each year, the Christian Medal is awarded to the leading AFL player from either the West Coast Eagles
or the Fremantle Football Club
. The votes are cast on a 3-2-1 basis by ABC Radio expert commentators at the conclusion of each game in which the teams compete throughout the home and away season.
Previous winners:
Previous winners:
from 1961 to 1988, was posthumously inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
in 2000.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
writer and radio broadcaster covering the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
and West Australian Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
.
Geoff Christian began his career as a junior football writer by writing for The West Australian
The West Australian
The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
newspaper as a teenager in 1954. In 1961 he became Chief Football writer for the paper; a position he held for more than a quarter of a century. In the late eighties, he retired and concentrated on radio work.
He died in November 1998 following a long illness.
Christian Medal
Christian was a member of ABC RadioABC Local Radio
ABC Local Radio is a network of publicly owned radio stations in Australia, operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.ABC Local Radio stations broadcast across the continent using terrestrial transmitters and satellites...
’s Saturday Sportstalk program for a period of 14 years prior to his death in November 1998.
To honor Christian’s contribution to ABC Sport, management struck a medal in his honor. Each year, the Christian Medal is awarded to the leading AFL player from either the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
or the Fremantle Football Club
Fremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
. The votes are cast on a 3-2-1 basis by ABC Radio expert commentators at the conclusion of each game in which the teams compete throughout the home and away season.
Previous winners:
- 1999 Adrian FletcherAdrian FletcherAdrian Fletcher is a former Australian rules footballer and current assistant coach. He is regarded as one of football's nomads, having played for five Australian Football League clubs in his 13 year career...
(Fremantle) - 2000 Paul HaslebyPaul HaslebyPaul Hasleby is a former Australian rules footballer. He played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League and the and South Fremantle Football Clubs in the West Australian Football League...
(Fremantle), Troy Cook (Fremantle) - 2001 Ben CousinsBen CousinsBenjamin Luke "Ben" Cousins is a former Australian rules footballer, best known for his 270-game career with and in the Australian Football League ....
(WCE) - 2002 Matthew PavlichMatthew PavlichMatthew Pavlich is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
(Fremantle) - 2003 Peter BellPeter F. BellPeter Francis Bell is a former Australian rules footballer for the Fremantle Football Club and the North Melbourne Football Club. He played as a rover . A former captain of the Fremantle Football Club, Bell was twice named as a member of the All-Australian Team...
(Fremantle) - 2004 Paul HaslebyPaul HaslebyPaul Hasleby is a former Australian rules footballer. He played for the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League and the and South Fremantle Football Clubs in the West Australian Football League...
(Fremantle) - 2005 Matthew PavlichMatthew PavlichMatthew Pavlich is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Fremantle Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
(Fremantle) - 2006 Chris JuddChris JuddChristopher Dylan "Chris" Judd is a professional Australian rules footballer and current captain of the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League ....
(WCE)
Geoff Christian Media Award
The Geoff Christian Media Award (previously known as the WA Football Commission Media Award) is given to a person who has performed at a consistently high standard throughout the year in either print, television, radio or photography.Previous winners:
- 2002 Dennis ComettiDennis ComettiDennis Cometti is a former Australian rules football player and coach for West Perth in the West Australian Football League and Footscray in the Victorian Football League but is best known as a commentator. In a career spanning almost 40 years, his dry humour and smooth voice have become his...
- 2007 Kim HagdornKim HagdornKim John Hagdorn is a former first-class cricketer and Australian sports journalist.Hagdorn was selected as a right-arm medium-fast bowler and played the opening match for the West Australian first-class cricket side in the 1977/78 Sheffield Shield season...
Other
Geoff Christian, who served as the chief football writer for The West AustralianThe West Australian
The West Australian is the only locally-edited daily newspaper published in Perth, Western Australia, and is owned by ASX-listed Seven West Media . The West is published in tabloid format, as is the state's other major newspaper, The Sunday Times, a News Limited publication...
from 1961 to 1988, was posthumously inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
in 2000.