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Justin Schmitt – 250 up and still blowing strong

TO HAVE umpired 250 AFL games is to have dealt with a lot of harsh scrutiny and absorbed the cries of displeasure of thousands of angry fans. But Justin Schmitt, who will achieve the milestone this Sunday wh...
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Umpire Shorts – May 27

Justin Schmitt chalked up his 250th AFL game when Hawthorn played Gold Coast on Sunday afternoon.  Justin would agree that over the past 18 months, he is in career best form, which included two finals in 2012. ...
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Umpire Shorts – May 20

Boundary umpire Nathan Doig celebrated his 150th AFL match on Friday night in an absolute thriller. Nathan, umpired his first AFL game in 2005 being promoted after two WAFL grand finals in '03 and '04. Nathan i...
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From Footy Boots to Whistle

Ask Leigh Fisher what his burning ambition is in umpiring and his reply is as quick and as focused as any umpire on the AFL list "a grand final of course!" Then comes a knowing pause and a statement with as muc...
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Footy Umpires Wanted…It’s Your Call

A major AFL umpire recruitment drive will target women, former players and ethnic minorities in a bid to reverse a chronic umpiring shortage, as match-day officials continue to leave the game due to abuse. P...
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50 Years for Umpiring Group

BEING an Aussie Rules football umpire may not be among the sporting world's easiest jobs every week, but the Northern District Football Umpires Association has supplied men and women in white - and nowadays ora...
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AFL In Asia

Each morning when I wake up, I reach for my I-Pad and turn on SEN radio, this is followed by downloading and reading the Herald Sun and The Age (sport only).  I head off for a morning run or ride and listen to ...