Realising the dream………Alex had always dreamed of playing AFL football but soon realised he was a terrible footballer so set his sights on umpiring, first as a field umpire, then a boundary umpire before taking up the flags in 2012.
Matthew started with the Sydney South Junior umpiring group in 2006 and was exposed to AFL Sydney Premier Division football as a boundary umpire in his first year by Anton Lewis (AFL Sydney stalwart). Matthew progressed to senior football as a field umpire in 2008 and has been a NEAFL field umpire since 2012. In 2011 and 2015, Matthew umpired the AFL Sydney Premier Division grand finals.
Joining the AFL Boundary list in Sydney is Michael Barlow who has given up his career and studies in the ACT to move to Sydney.
Commencing his umpiring career with AFL Canberra back in 2010, the last 9 years have been one to remember for Patrick. Four NEAFL Grand Finals and two grand finals in the VFL is how Patrick Jackson landed his position onto the AFL boundary list for 2018.
It isn’t often that an umpire who has just officiated an AFL grand final and is named All-Australian decides to retire but Luke Walker, after 14 seasons decided the time was right after giving so much energy and effort at being the best umpire he could be.
As a young 18 year old, Rob Haala remembers having what he calls ‘a foolish dream’ of umpiring 300 AFL games which he associated back to growing up and watching Tim Watson playing over 300 games with Essendon. Well as Rob hangs up his boots, he retires in equal tenth-place on the all-time boundary umpire list on 307 AFL games, equal fourth-place on the all-time finals boundary umpire list with 27 finals, 4 grand finals and two All-Australian awards as some of his many achievements over a career spanning 14 years.
Matthew Dervan was awarded with the Brian Pratt Medallion as the most promising first or second year goal umpire and what a sensational 2017 he had!
Boundary umpire, Mitch Le Fevre spent more time getting up and out of his seat and getting behind the microphone than our MC did at our awards function on Sunday 11 February 2018.
The Bishop Shield is named in honour of the late Barry “Bishop” Sheen who throughout his short career typified the criteria against which this award is judged. Achieving on field success, actively contributing to and supporting the AFLUA and role modelling the attributes of commitment, loyalty and dedication. The award is peer voted which makes it very prestigious among the group.