Its not often that a sibling is the most influential person on an umpire’s career to date but it is Patrick Burn’s brother Matthew who got him to take up umpiring. From there Patrick gave up his playing career and stuck at umpiring for the fitness, pocket money and opportunities it offered.
Patrick is one of the new Victorian appointed Rookie umpires for season 2017. His background includes 5 years at the EDFL from 2008-2012 before he was invited to trial with the VFL in 2013. Patrick was promoted to the VFL Senior list in 2014 and umpired his 50th VFL Senior game in 2016. He has also umpired 3 grand finals – the TAC Cup grand final in 2014 and 2015 and the Development League grand final in 2016.
Whilst having umpired 3 grand finals with the VFL, his career highlight to date was umpiring the B Grade senior grand final in 2011 with his brother Matthew and ex-VFL umpire Adam Havelberg.
In addition to Matthew, Andrew Coates has played a significant role in Patrick’s development as an umpire. Another person to help shape Patrick’s umpiring career has been AFL Field Umpire Brendan Hosking.
Patrick is motivated by wanting to be the best he can be physically and in umpiring and is keen to see how far he can go. To up and coming umpires, Patrick’s advice is to be relentless and never settle for mediocrity.
Patrick is a barista by trade and also works at Vans as a sales assistant. His hobbies include drawing/art, guitar and skateboarding.
He is looking forward to the year ahead and the exposure to AFL coaching and training and to being part of the AFL match day experience.
Best of luck Pat for the year ahead!
Article written by: AFLUA Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Peter Kelly
