It is with great pleasure that l advise that David John Flegg has been awarded an Order of Australia (AM) for his services to umpiring at the VFL and AFL level over a period spanning in excess of 35 years. The Award was announced today in the Queen’s Birthday 2019 Honours List.
David’s on-field umpiring career began with the Victorian Football Association in 1983. Promoted to the Victorian Football League in 1988, David umpired 337 AFL games – until 2016, he held the record for the most games umpired by a VFL/AFL goal umpire. He umpired 19 AFL finals and three AFL Grand Finals. Since his retirement as an officiating umpire at the conclusion of 2011, David was appointed as Assistant Goal Umpires’ Coach with AFL Victoria in 2013, a position he held until the completion of the 2016 season. David was appointed by the AFL as a Timekeeper for AFL matches in 2012 and continues in that role today.
David’s contribution to the Australian Football League Umpires’ Association (AFLUA), Victorian Football Umpires’ Association (VFUA) and umpiring for 37 years has been profound. Most of his work off-field has been done in an honorary or voluntary capacity – he has donated years of his life to both Associations. He has done this whilst maintaining full-time employment as a research librarian with a number of government organisations.
But it is not the accumulation of records and researching and recording the history of umpiring that makes David a special person. It is his passion and genuine care and interest in the tradition and history of umpiring as well as in umpiring and umpires. He is a mentor to young umpires, a genuine role model to current umpires and respected amongst the umpiring fraternity as one of the all-time contributors to umpiring in Australia.
As can be seen from the umpires’ association positions held and his achievements, David’s contribution to the AFLUA and VFUA and indeed AFL and VFL umpiring in general, has been truly outstanding. A summary of David’s voluntary positions can be accessed here.
On behalf of the AFLUA / VFUA, congratulations David on this great honour in recognition of your valuable contribution over so many years.