The AFL world has come together to mourn the tragic loss of respected journalist Sam Landsberger on Tuesday after the reporter was hit by a truck on his way to work.
Landsberger, 35, died in hospital after the shocking collision in Richmond on Tuesday morning, with heartbroken colleagues paying tribute to him following his passing.
The journalist joined the Herald Sun in 2010 and quickly established himself as a leading football reporter. This season he had a slot on Fox Footy Midweek show Tackle, such was his standing in the sport.
But he was not a one-sport player, he was an award-winning cricket journalist who could turn his hand to any sport.
As a result, he was sent to Paris to cover the Olympics for News Corp, and it was during his trip to France that he gained a legion of new followers with his dynamic and quirky reporting.
The 35-year-old regularly posted a daily schedule for fans watching the action at dawn at his home, with the meticulous order of execution set to an iMessage background.
Posting his final daily schedule of an incredibly busy trip, many Twitter followers shared their appreciation for Landsberger’s excellent reporting.
“Thank you for ALL the time you put into this friend!” said one fan. “It’s been amazing.”
Sam Landsberger died Tuesday morning after a collision with a truck.
The Herald Sun reporter was hit by a truck while on his way to work in Richmond, Melbourne.
“Thanks for all your work mate,” said a second fan. “It’s a shame it’s been another four years.”
A third fan said: “Thank you so much for the work you do. It’s been great and easy to follow. See you in four years.”
“Thanks for all the time you’ve put into this Sam, I really appreciate it,” said a fourth user.
“I appreciate all the effort,” said another fan. “I literally couldn’t have enjoyed it more with these daily updates.”
Leading the tributes among his colleagues, football editor Mark Robinson said: ‘Sam Landsberger had a huge future in journalism and made huge strides from the start.
“He loved the game, understood it and respected his craft. He was a hugely valuable member of Melbourne’s sports journalism world, someone who could cover all aspects of football. And people trusted him.”
Landsberger had gained a legion of new followers thanks to his coverage of the Olympics.
Former Australia captain Aaron Finch told X: “He was a great journalist and someone everyone gave a lot of time and respect to.”
Landsberger appeared on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle this season alongside presenter Jay Clark, who recalled the first day he joined News Corp.
“I loved working with Sam and adored him as a person,” he said.
“I remember the day he walked into the Herald Sun office and the beautiful, effortless way he covered the game from the start.”
“He was a superb writer, a joy to read, a fearless journalist and a beam of energy on television with Fox Footy. He was the star of our Midweek Tackle show and an incredible friend, who always made you smile. I will miss him very much and also our phone conversations that always went on for too long.”
Jon Ralph said: ‘Sammy was an incredible journalist. He had all the best characteristics of a traditional journalist with rock-solid sources, which he protected at all costs, an immense work rate and an indescribable stubbornness when he came up with a story.
The media world is in mourning and tributes are pouring in for the beloved reporter.
“And he did it with a modern sensibility, his fingers glistening as he relentlessly texted his sources for the latest information he could include in columns packed with news clips.”
Landsberger attended Melbourne High School before attending Monash University from 2007 to 2010. She graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism.
He won the 2013 Australian Football Media Association Award for Outstanding Young Media Journalist of the Year.
He also won the Walkley Young Journalist of the Year Award that same year, while winning three successive Twenty20 media awards.
Landsberger, a lifelong Western Bulldogs supporter, was the son of Dr Jake Landsberger, who worked as the AFL club’s team doctor.
Melbourne Highway Patrol officers are continuing their investigation into the collision, although the exact details of the accident have yet to be determined.
Witnesses or drivers with dashcam footage of the incident are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
