Arthur Norden

Field umpire
1905-1921
183 matches
10 finals
3 Grand Finals

Boundary umpire
1905-1907
2 matches

Arthur Norden burst on to the VFL umpiring scene in 1905 and, for two seasons, was in the VFL almost every week. He umpired the sectional finals in both seasons and the Second Semi Final in his first year.

There is no recorded reason why Norden virtually disappears from senior football for five seasons but he returned to senior ranks in 1912. Despite excellent performances, he was unable to break into the finals appointments. This was the height of Jack Elder’s career and it was not until 1915 that Norden was appointed to a finals series match. Almost out of the blue, he was selected to officiate in the 1915 Grand Final after Elder had handled the earlier finals matches that year.

Building on the opportunity, Norden followed his first Grand Final with similar success in 1916 and 1917. In the later years of his career, Norden made the finals in every year except 1920 – – and in both 1919 and 1920, he also added Interstate matches between Victoria and South Australia to his 183 VFL match resume.

In his final season (1921), Norden, resigned following round three as a statement about the lack of police protection of umpires at VFL venues. He was president of the umpires’ associatiion at the time. In 1923 he was appointed umpires’ coach following the retirement of Jack Elder and held the position until 1940. VFLUA President in 1915, 1916 and 1921, Norden was elected a Life Member in 1919.