Boundary umpire, Matthew Tomkins has taken two seasons and four games to notch up his first 50 AFL games. Not since Chris Gordon a couple of years ago has someone reached a milestone in such a quick time. Matt umpired 21 games in his first year, 25 last season, including 3 finals and then 4 this year. When we asked Matt today what it is like being one of the older guys now, he laughed and said, “Yeah I feel like a veteran.”
It was 12 years ago. A teenage boy is assigned to be the umpire in an underage football match. That is all Andrew Stephens’ remembers of that day – his first as an umpire.
A full round of matches this week and no emergency umpires got a run! Phew what a difference seven days can make. Two of the field umpires who were replaced last weekend, Jason Armstrong and Ben Ryan were able to get themselves up and went back out to umpire in round 4. Justin Schmitt however has succumbed a a significant calf injury. Heath Ryan had to be replaced following training last week when he went out with an Achilles problem to be replaced in the selected panel by Tristan Burgess. It was Tristan’s first game for the season.
Playing a hunch while tracking down mystery umpires from the early VFL years can often pay dividends.
Talented young umpires will have the chance to learn from the likes of Ray Chamberlain through the 2014 Mates Program.
One of WA’s most experienced umpires, Margetts feels lucky to have officiated in 218 AFL matches in 12 seasons despite still living in Perth.
Goal umpire Shaun Apted started goal umpiring for his father’s super rules team when he was just eleven years old and loved it. As a young fella he played footy on the Gold Coast for Southport juniors until he developed shin splints. Looking for something else so he could continue his involvement in sport he went back to goal umpiring and worked his way through the ranks.
Rowan Sawers, former AFL Head Umpires Coach has accepted the position as Umpires Coach for the Essendon District Football League (EDFL).
Field umpiring over the weekend became became a war of attrition as three umpires went down on Sunday with injury during matches.