News

FORMER AFL umpire Darren Goldspink has been appointed EFL Head of Umpiring.

Ex AFL field umpire Gary Fila has been appointed as the next AFL umpires coach in Queensland replacing Cameron Nash who was appointed as the new AFL Victoria umpires’ manager in December.

The annual AFL umpires camp was the venue to present two prestigious association awards to two champions of umpiring.

You could not umpire in the Sunraysia Football League during the 1970’s or 80’s without knowing long time goal umpire Charlie Cook.  We all know his son, Allan, who recently won two gold medals at the world masters games and is a life member and strong supporter of the AFLUA.

It took quite some time to identify many of the early association office-bearers. Actual records only went as far back as 1938 and the period from 1909 had to be researched from letters and newspaper articles and sundry other sources. There were still a number missing and for two years there have been no gaps filled -until last week.

Ask anyone who has been around a while in AFL umpiring circles and they all nod in agreement, this has been the toughest start to any AFL season in living memory.

Recently retired AFL goal umpire Troy Mavroudis has certainly taken the notion of a “sea change” to a whole new level.

Grand final boundary umpire George Smith turned 100 years of age on 30 December. He becomes the second VFL/AFL umpire to reach the century mark.