I feel for the subject of my next ‘Where are they now’, as coming from a football family Michael John Hafey would have found it hard to follow his elder brothers. No matter where Michael would go his eldest brother Tommy’s name would come up; not to mention the second eldest Peter who was a runner for two Victorian football sides.
Born on the 15th April 1949 to Tom & Vera Hafey at East Malvern, the family included Tom, Jim, Peter & sister Brenda, with the five siblings spread over twenty years. It wasn’t long before the family moved to Mount Waverley in 1957 where Michael attended East Burwood Primary school then onto Syndal Technical School. In 1960 Michael started an apprenticeship as a carpenter and joiner at R.M.I.T, completing the trade in 1969. After working as a Building Estimator, Quantity Surveyor and Contract Building Supervisor for 18 years, in 1976 Michael become a Registered Building Practitioner a job he stayed in until 2024.
Michael was Married to Janette and had three children Suzette, Travis & Tiffiny and now have four grandchildren. After thirty seven years of marriage they decided to go their separate ways.
Although he didn’t follow Tommy into the VFL, Michael was a very good footballer having played with East Malvern in the Federal FL, winning several premierships with the East Burwood F.C. in the Eastern District F.L, and Mount Waverley in the South East Suburban F.L. (where Michael won many trophies). Michael also played Cricket in ‘A’ Grade winning the batting average on many occasions with several 100’s to his name. To compliment this he played tennis and golf, but it was in 1972 that he took on the challenge of umpiring, joining the VFL Reserve Grade as a field umpire.
After three years in the reserve grade (’72 to ’74) with a couple of games helping out the senior list when they were short due to injuries, Michael was promoted onto the Senior List for season 1975. He joined senior umpires Rowan Sawers, Peter Cameron, Ian Clayton and about a dozen other field umpires. Michael’s first game was in the West Gippsland FL, but the next few years saw him rotated through the grades. 1977 Michael nominated for the UA’s social committee, serving the committee for 5 years before moving up to the executive committee in ’78. Michael held the executive committee position for one year but work commitments slowed his progress in umpiring.
During 1977 the Umpires played the Stockade in a feature football match and were soundly beaten. Michael kicked one of the eight goals for the umpires.
Michael loved umpiring in the country, the people, the trips and the camaraderie. In a funny incident at an Ovens & Murray game he bounced the ball so high that the ruckmen had to jump twice. In 1978 Michael played the taxi driver at the end of season medal count at the Goulburn Valley FL where Michael & Bruce Seedy enjoyed a wonderful evening. On another occasion a game at Kaniva Michael was invited to a party at Bordertown. When the Overland arrived for the trip back to Melbourne, Michael only had a valid ticket from Kaniva, which is 45 kms down the track. The South Australian conductor wanted Michael to buy another ticket but Michael’s fellow umpires convinced him that Michael had lost his ticket and he was able to get back home with paying an additional fare.
When Michael first joined the list at the age of 26 years, he was told by Umpires Adviser Allan Nash that if was not on Olympic Park by the age of 25 he would not be umpiring League Football. What a blow to your confidence. After six years on the list he considered he was not going to advance any further and decided to retire after 105 VCFL games, including four finals. His last game on the list was in the Tallangatta & Dist FL 2nd semi final where Tallangatta Valley 20.10 defeated Kiewa Sandy Creek 13.11.
Looking for a new adventure Michael joined the V.A.F.A. but after two years considered his umpiring at senior level was over and applied to the Waverley Junior F.L. feeling that he had plenty to offer young umpires. Michael officiated for three years and acted as advisor, tasked with appointing 78 umpires every round. Anton McKernan and Adrian Panozzo were schoolboys whom Michael coached and both went on to umpire AFL.
In 1986 Michael was approached to Observe on the VFL Cadet squad by Glen James when a position became vacant as the Video Operator and Assistant Adviser. He jumped at the opportunity and carried out that role until 1996.
After retirement from his building business Michael and partner Lesley joined many other grey nomads, heading off with their caravan in tow for the northern states when the weather becomes cold. Riding bikes in the sunshine keeps the body mobile. The’ve travelled a lot of k’s in retirement, especially having travelled the Nullarbor seven times in the past dozen years. A medical episode 30 years ago has not put the brakes on him, in fact Michael is a firm believer when the going gets tough the tough get going and if you want something done ask a busy person to do it.
Safe travels Michael when taking in the sun and sights.
Graeme ‘Wizzer’ Fellows