Luke Roberts hangs up his whistle – for the last time

When you realise that ACT based boundary umpire, Luke Roberts started umpiring in 1985, most of the current group were only "a twinkle in their father's eyes" as the old saying goes.  Luke's first ACTAFL grand ...

Mark Thomson we salute you – 300 AFL games

Thomo believes umpiring is etched into his DNA.  "I have spent more time in my life umpiring now than not.  I just love it, I am challenged every time I walk out onto a ground."  The passion and enthusiasm in h...

Harold Macguire passes away

While never an umpire on the VFL senior panel, Harold Macguire supported many members in his time in the VFL Reserve Grade Umpires Association as a goal umpire.  Harold was made a life member of that associatio...

Ken Wright – a country umpire

As the 2014 season draws to a close spare a thought for those men and women who underpin our great game in the country regions of Victoria. Ken Wright is one of those men who has drawn the curtain on his 36t...

Umpiring finals – a tough campaign

Ask any of the six field, eight boundary and four goal umpires who were axed from the finals campaign yesterday how tough selection is at this time of the season and they would all be happy to sit down with you...

Football umpires deserve more respect

LAST week I went to the Essendon v Carlton game at the MCG to watch my brother-in-law. It was his final game after 341 matches at the elite AFL level. He’s an incredible athlete and although he’s well over 40, ...

Chambo lands on 200 games and a time of reflection

When anyone spends any length of time out of the game they love and are so passionate about because they are injured they can become dispirited and disillusioned.  The game they have worked so hard to be a part...

Kamolins defies the critics

If you sit back and review the umpiring career of Chris Kamolins who umpired his 150th AFL game on Friday night between Hawthorn and Collingwood it has worked in the opposite direction to what the current think...