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.
Bill Terrill’s most memorable moment as a VFL umpire didn’t come on the field, it came in 1955 after a Farrer League final. Bill was sitting in the kitchen of the Gloucester Hotel in Albury about 7.30pm after the final eating his dinner when he was introduced to a most attractive young lady, Adeline Lester. “I married her in March 1956. Some old aunties said it would never last. Sixty one years later we are still going strong,” said Bill with a great smile. Jim Rowe, also an AFLUA life member was best man at their wedding.
“Lucky undies”? “Listening to music”……….these are two of the pre-game rituals WA based Rookie umpire Trent McPhee follows before taking the field each week.
Following in his father Gavin’s footsteps, Cameron ‘Dorey’ Dore is quickly rising through the umpiring ranks with two impressive years at the VFL, after a successful beginning at the Victorian Amateurs. In 2016, in his first year with the VFL, Cameron umpired the TAC Cup Grand Final and was the winner of the VFUA’s Frank Leverett Shield for best first-year umpire across all disciplines.