ESPN has announced a hot new group of high-profile media personalities and players to lead Wednesday’s launch of the Aussie edition of its flagship global website ESPN.com.

The site is set to feature everything sport, from in-depth reporting and analysis to commentary of mainstream Australian sports and coverage of U.S. and global sports.

Already kicking goals as a digital sports publisher in Australia, ESPN will expand its position with an Aussie-focused edition of ESPN.com. The site will be also be closely integrated with ESPN’s other sports sites – ESPNcricinfo and ESPN FC – for the best in global cricket and soccer coverage.

ESPN’s new group of Aussie sporting stars includes Cricket World Cup-winning former Australia vice-captain Brad Haddin, current St Kilda AFL captain Nick Riewoldt, NRL premiership winner Brett Kimmorley and two-time AFL premiership winner Jude Bolton.

Veteran rugby writer Greg Growden, who joined ESPN in 2013, has extended and expanded his role, now covering additional sports, while sports broadcaster Stephanie Brantz has also joined the group of new ESPN contributors.

The new Australian editorial team will be led by ESPN Australia’s managing editor Andy Withers, and also includes established ESPNcricinfo contributors Melinda Farrell, Daniel Brettig and Brydon Coverdale. Expanding on ESPN’s global mission to “serve sports fans, anytime, anywhere” the new team will also bring fans insights into their own sporting passions.

“Bringing an in-depth, multi-sport experience to sports fans anytime, anywhere in Australia is central to our mission here at ESPN,” general manager of ESPN ANZ Haydn Arndt said.

“Fans will enjoy not only what they have come to know from ESPN.com but they will now have the bonus of Australian sports coverage in a way only ESPN can deliver, with unmatched depth and the very best ‘game around the game’ expert analysis we are known for. Utilising our global technology infrastructure while we program content and sell advertising locally is a powerful, winning combination.”

Launching with a “beta” period, the new ESPN site will continue to add features and enhancements in the months ahead, including content personalisation that will allow individual fans to identify favourite teams and preferred sports.

“With our leadership position already established and more fans consuming ESPN digital content than ever, we are not launching from a standing start,” director of digital products & partnerships at ESPN ANZ Lance Peatey said.

“This new site brings fans a genuine alternative for local coverage, with authority, personality and a world-class technology backbone that will gradually allow us to deliver each Australian fan with a more personalised experience that helps them easily consume and discover the most relevant content for them.”

Now we’ve captured all your sporting fan eyes, have you heard of B&T’s Ministry of Sports Marketing? Because naturally you should have. It’s set to bring together a raft of eclectic and top-class speakers from around the globe, in partnership with Iconoclastic, in a full day’s conference followed-up with an awards evening and cocktail party.

For more information on ticket sales, the day’s agenda, award categories and how to enter click here.