Hosko hits 50

"I never expected to make the AFL panel on my first attempt after umpiring the 2011 VFL grand final.  I had only umpired 38 senior VFL games and it was my first final series, but you would never turn down the o...

Reflections on the day with Isabel Fitzgerald

As Hawthorn premiership defender Grant Birchall and Melbourne captain Nathan Jones shake hands before the pre-game coin toss, participating in awe is 19-year-old Isabel Fitzgerald. From her vantage point in the...

A familiar face at AFL training

Every Tuesday and Thursday night, there’s always a familiar face at AFL Umpires training down here in Melbourne. Head trainer Phil Watson is the man who makes sure each and every umpire is looked after when ...

Brendan Hosking brings up his half century

It only seems like yesterday that scoreboards and journalists were calling Brendan anything other than Hosking when he had his first game in 2012 between Greater Western Sydney and West Coast Eagles.  "It becam...

Marra’s first milestone – 100 games

I wonder how many of you, like me, saw Michael Marantelli's great running prowess and automatically assumed that his transition into umpiring came on the back of his elite running skills.  Not so. "I loved t...

Community umpiring round another success

The culmination of all of the activities of the community umpiring round saw three young umpires walk in front of each AFL umpiring team onto AFL grounds all around the country on the weekend. Last week all ...

Jack Edwards makes his debut

Jack Edwards became the 433rd field umpire to debut in a VFL/AFL game.  Jack was in charge of the Melbourne v Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday.  Jack has come through the VFL ranks as a rising star.  He umpired ...