The most prominent player to umpire pathway umpire, Jordan Bannister today announced his retirement from the AFL umpires panel for work and family reasons.
Jordan was finding it difficult to juggle the demands of full time employment, supporting family and umpiring. “Something just had to give, the demands were not getting any easier to meet and unfortunately it was umpiring that had to go.”
Jordan umpired 39 games in a two year career that included a final in his first year. Jordan was given compassionate leave for the last eight weeks of this season as he battled the competing interests.
“I feel like I have let a lot of the guys down, they have been fantastic in making me the umpire I am today and I loved umpiring and hanging with the guys,” reflected Jordan when we spoke with him today.
“Jordan is not on his own with regard to those competing interests and every AFL umpire has to juggle those demands to umpire AFL football,” said AFLUA CEO, Peter Howe. “Jordan may be just the tip of the iceberg. We certainly wish Jordan well in the next phase of his life and who knows, maybe one day he will be back.”
Leigh Fisher, who was listed for the first time in 2013 and umpired 15 games has been promoted to the full list.
