Round 19 shorts: Has there been a colder or darker day for footy?

Jul 31, 2018 | News, Umpire Shorts

There is no doubt that Ballarat would’ve made some type of football history on Sunday. Played in arctic temperatures with hail, wind and rain the weather bureau said the temperature felt like minus 5 degrees.  Add that to the sub-standard lighting and the game...

Vale John Gray (Jack)

Jul 30, 2018 | News

AFLUA Life member John Gray (Jack) passed away peacefully on Monday 23rd July aged 92. Known to us JR, Jack grew up in Ascot Vale.  He played football with Essendon Stars under 18’s in the Melbourne Boys League.  They were undefeated premiers in 1943, the game was...

‘It’s so impressive’: Ump praises AFL initiative

Jul 27, 2018 | News

AFL UMPIRE Rob O’Gorman knows the importance of organ donation. Eight years ago, his mother Shauna – a sufferer of chronic asthma – was placed in the traumatic position of requiring a double lung transplant to stay alive. It was a long, gruelling process, but...

Where are they now: Noel James Rose

Jul 24, 2018 | Where Are They Now?

My next “Where are they Now” is a gentleman not many umpires would know, but to the city umpires, field, boundary & goal, Noel Rose was our umpires’room attendant at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for a number of years.  As a part-time employee with the Melbourne...

Round 17 shorts – Injury curse hits again

Jul 17, 2018 | News, Umpire Shorts

Some of our best umpires seem to have been cursed this season and no matter how hard they work, recover and rest they just can’t seem to get a break! Scott Jeffery comes on in round 16 to replace the injured Nick Foot for his first AFL game of the season.  Fast...