AFLUA Life Member Wayne Hinton has received a Medal of the Order of Australia “for service to Australian rules football as an umpire”.
Like many umpires, Hinton followed his father’s footsteps into the craft as a boy. John Hinton, who recently became nonagenarian, umpired more than 300 VAFA games. This was the foundation from which a 16-year-old Wayne, who was a keen athlete looking to maintain his fitness in the winter, would build a lifetime of umpiring and establish “The Hinton Dynasty” of VAFA umpires.
Nine years after commencing his umpiring career, Hinton caught the eye of VFL umpiring coach John Sutcliffe and was selected for the VFL Cadet squad in 1983. That same year he was appointed to the senior VFL Panel.
From 1983 to 1992 Hinton umpired 5 senior VFL games, 100 reserve grade games, and more than 50 VCFL games, including a drawn grand final in the Riverina League between the Wagga Tigers and Coolamon.
During his VFL career Hinton took the field with V/AFL greats like Warwick Capper, Greg Williams, Garry Lyon, Peter Moore, Bruce Doull, Tony Lockett and Doug Hawkins.
One notable moment of his VFL days was the 1985 VFL Reserves game between Collingwood and Sydney at Lakeside oval. Infamously, an incensed John Burke shoved umpire Phil Waight—Hinton’s partner that day—to the ground. Ray “Slug” Jordan’s memorable commentary—“get the boy off the ground”—is still regularly repeated to this day.
Hinton recieves his AFLUA Life Membership from Brian Bulluss.
On return to the VAFA, Hinton umpired four Premier A Men’s grand finals in the early 90s, as well as four B-grade and six C-grade grand finals.
In 2006 Hinton was presented with an Honorary AFLUA Life Membership for providing significant support to the Association over many years.
By 2013, Wayne had reached his 600-game milestone with the VAFA, taking the field with his daughter Asha, who was running the boundary and securing the “Hinton Dynasty”.
However, behind the celebratory scenes of his 600th game, Wayne was privately battling chronic kidney failure, which had almost robbed him of his passion.
Hinton recieves a guard of honour for his 600th game. His daughter Asha (left of centre) accompanies him.
Having been diagnosed that year after persistent ill-health, Wayne’s kidney had lost 86% of its function.
Nightly dialysis and the wait for a donor would put a halt on his umpiring. However, it would only be temporary. In May 2015, after 28 months of waiting, a suitable donor was finally found.
Despite a doctor’s prediction that he would never run again, determination and passion saw Hinton return to umpiring, just four months post-surgery.
Now after over 700 VAFA matches Wayne has been duly recognised for his enormous contribution to Australian rules football at all levels.
The AFLUA would like to congratulate Wayne on his achievement. Committed umpires like Wayne who dedicate themselves to the game and so generously share their knowledge with the next generation are the beating heart of umpiring.
Article by Jackson Kerr
*Featured Image Credit: Yanni Dellaportas / Mornington Peninsula News Group