News

If you’re looking for a new idea, especially in that “tech” field then you need to look no further than AFL field umpire, Chris Donlon.

Field umpires, Chris Donlon and Shaun Ryan were inducted as AFL Life Members at the AFL 2018 Season Launch at the Forum Theatre.  Both umpires joined 8 other recipients, Steve Johnson, Jordan Lewis, Andrew Mackie, Rex Hunt, Eddie Betts, Kade Simpson and Michael Long.

Luke Farmer took his most promising steps yet towards kick starting his AFL career on the weekend in over 12 months when he stepped out in a WAFL reserves practice match on Saturday.  Who should be there to lend his support and keep a watchful eye over proceedings, none other than newly appointed WAFL and Talent Umpire Manager, long time friend and confidant, Dean Margetts.

Hello all I’m back for another series of ‘where are they now?’  In this edition we turn back the clock to 1976 and check in on:

Sam Walsh is our newly appointed AFL goal umpire on the Victorian list. 

Patrick is one of a select few who has umpired three VFL grand finals before being promoted to the AFL, having officiated the 2015, 2016 and 2017 grand finals at Etihad Stadium.

James is one of many umpires who have been influenced by their father’s career as an umpire and began his career with the AFL Brisbane juniors in 2005. He was the Under 15 National Schoolboys All-Australian umpire in 2008, umpired in the Northern Territory League in the 2010/11 season before making his NEAFL debut in 2012.

Being appointed to the AFL boundary list with six AFL games under his belt is not the normal pathway for an umpire being appointed to the AFL, however Damien Main has that record, having been called up from the VFL in 2017 to cover injuries on the AFL boundary list.

Like a number of his umpiring colleagues, the earlier attraction to umpiring was money and fitness, so as a 14-year-old, Adam Reardon started umpiring in regional footy competitions around the Hobart area for a couple of years before starting to umpire in the Tasmanian State League when it was reintroduced in 2009.