Spare a thought for the players who were traded and those who weren’t over the past 10 days or so of the trade period. Some players held their own fate in their hands, others had to sit and wait until the trading was over to see if they would be offered a contract for 2020. Many do, but for others their dream of playing AFL footy may well be over unless they are thrown a life-line in the upcoming draft.
Our next ‘Where are they Now?’ is a Goal Umpire who needs no introduction to all AFLUA members. Leigh Du-Val Keen is what our Association strives for, so much so that an award named the Leigh Keen Shield was introduced in 2000 in recognition of Leigh’s outstanding career and service to the AFLUA. It is the AFLUA’s most prestigious award for goal umpires and takes into account both on-field performance and off-field commitment to the AFLUA. The specific criteria for the award are: achieving on field success; actively contributing to and supporting the AFLUA; role modelling the attributes of commitment, loyalty and dedication.
Now the entertainment industry may have had Frank Sinatra, but our next ‘Where are they now?’ Stanley Fisher (better known as Stan to all VFLUA members and Ginger to his mates) was a member of the Umpires’ Appointment Board for 14 years including four as Chairman of the Board. During that era, members of the Board voted on who would be umpiring the next week.
The three All Australian Umpires were announced at the AFLUA grand final cocktail party in Southbank on Saturday night.
AFL Umpires coach, Hayden Kennedy joined the Bay 93.9 radio team on Wednesday morning to talk about grand final week for the umpires.
The AFL announced the umpiring panel for the 2019 AFL Grand Final between Richmond and the GWS GIANTS, to be played at the MCG this Saturday, September 28.
Fifty years in umpiring and guess what, Denis Edmund Gollop at the ripe old age of 70 years, is still umpiring in the Queensland Football League. Crickey makes one feel tired just writing about it. Not only does Denis complete his duties as a field umpire, he butters up and takes his turn in the goals, when required. Denis who now is the Field Umpire Coach for AFL Queensland Juniors on the Sunshine Coast, claims it’s never too late to get started as long as you love the game, and to cap it off you have the best seat at the ground. Denis thoroughly enjoys the role as a coach of junior umpires on the Sunshine Coast.