The West Australian, Sunday Times journalist Glen Quartermain wins prestigious award for Polly Farmer story

The Sunday Times sports editor Glen Quartermain has snared one of the most prestigious prizes in football reporting after his ground-breaking story on Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer’s chronic traumatic encephalopathy diagnosis.

Quartermain was adjudged Best News Reporter in the Australian Football Media Association’s 2020 awards, encompassing football journalists and reporters from all mediums of print, digital, radio and television across the country.

READ QUARTERMAIN’S AWARD-WINNING STORY HERE

Quartermain’s exclusive story from February revealed how tissue from VFL and WAFL legend Farmer’s brain had been analysed to determine the late ruckman had Stage III CTE, believed to have been caused by repeated head knocks over many years.

It triggered a widespread response nation-wide as the issue of concussions further comes into focus in the Australian code.

Judges praised Quartermain for breaking the story and setting the agenda on the important issue.

“The Sunday Times' Glen Quartermain produced the most significant story with his exclusive revelation that former Geelong champion Graham "Polly" Farmer had become the first VFL/AFL player to be officially diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),” the AFMA’s announcement read.

“Quartermain set the agenda on a story that sent shock waves through the industry as concussion to former and current players, and the threat of severe brain damage, continues to be a subject of growing concern in football.”

Quartermain said he was thrilled to have been able to shed light on such a vital issue.

“I’m really honoured to win and to get the recognition in Western Australia,” Quartermain said.

“But I’m even more pleased for the Farmer family, who displayed great courage in telling their dad’s story.”

Quartermain beat commended trio Michael Warner (The Herald Sun), Tom Browne (7NEWS) and Tom Morris (Fox Footy) to the major prize.

MORE ON CTE FROM GLEN QUARTERMAIN:

What is CTE? Six burning questions

Why Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer is WA’s undisputed king of football