Boundary umpire Mitch Lefevre celebrated his 150th game on the weekend. Mitch, who commenced his career in Tasmania and moved to Melbourne in 2008 when he made the AFL list is one of the most liked team men in the group. Mitch has umpired six finals. See more on Mitch later in the week.
AFL Victoria’s Female Umpire Academy has received a huge boost this season thanks to renowned business woman Susan Alberti.
Looking for someone to take into battle who has the qualities of resilience, an ability to perform every action under immense scrutiny and pressure but who has the strength of mind to fight to retain his place on the list, then Graham Bergroth is your go to man.
It has taken 11 rounds of AFL footy but we finally got all of the Queensland boundary umpires on the field at the one time. Injury, illness and form has stifled the groups push to achieve that goal.
When AFL Foundation CEO, Derek Linsell (2005-2008) suggested that AFL umpires were in a privileged position to develop meaningful community links he had no idea that his work would have such long term impact on both the umpires and those with who the umpires worked.
Chatting with Jason Armstrong (JA) you are disarmed by his cheerful disposition and lack of pretence. “Yeah I did an under-18 grand final with Matty Stevic and Cam Blanchard, not sure what year. I did a VFL grand final but it was only after my third trial out of Queensland and a grand final there that I made the list,” reflected JA as he tried to put a timeline together with me for the article. “I know I was 31 years old when I got onto the list, I did my 100th VFL game while on rotation out of the AFL a year or so ago.”
When we talk about recruitment and the pathway into AFL umpiring you could be excused for looking to the larger centralised organisations that service community football.
Walking into the trainers room last night I thought I had walked into a “back to the future” moment. There was Frank Knight holding the tub of lollies rationing them out to the guys as they came off the track. Frank had returned to the fold to say hello to the group and renew old acquaintances. It was the first time he had been able to return since his retirement in November last year.
Field umpire, Justin Schmitt was back for his first AFL match since tearing a calf in round 3. Justin umpired the GWS v Richmond game. Troy Pannell was still suffering from the knock he received over a week ago and was struggling to train last week.