Michael Willson is Chief Photographer of the Australian Football League. Since the 2005 AFL season he has earned the respect and trust of players and clubs alike, creatively photographing all the action, triumph, heartbreak, blood, sweat and tears - often capturing moments otherwise unseen - from a unique perspective that can only come from an intimate knowledge and love for photography and Australian Football.
In 2020 Michael was awarded the prestigious Melbourne Press Club Gold Quill for his iconic photograph of Tayla Harris. The picture also won the Sport Australia Best Sports Photograph and the inaugural Women in Sport Photo Action Awards. He has won multiple Australian Football Media Association Awards. Michael is also a Ted's Master.
In 2018 Michael was commissioned by Commonwealth Games Australia to be the offical photographer of the Australian team at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Michael has published two books UP CLOSE - a remarkable photographic journal of the 2016 AFL season and CYRIL - a pictorial celebration of a Hawthorn champion.
His work is featured on AFL.com.au, AFLPhotos.com.au, the AFL Record as well as newspapers and magazines around Australia and the world.
Follow Michael on Instagram: @michaelcwillson
Picture by Scott Barbour
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