News

Congratulations to all of our colleagues who were appointed to the first AFL grand final in 2018.  In particular it was great to see our second year AFL rookie John Howorth from the VFL get appointed to his first AFLW grand final.  John was very pleased and simply saw it as another opportunity to test his skills in a high pressure final.  Andrew Adair came from nowhere in his first season on the AFLW panel to not only win a place in the GF but also to replace Alex Whetton on the rookie panel for 2018.  Andrew hails from Queensland.  Both John and Andrew are also members of the ADP panel coached by Stuart Wenn.  They were joined by female pathway umpire from Victoria, Annie Mirabile in her second season as an AFLW field umpire.  It was also Annie’s first grand final.  

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.

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.