News

Former Cadet Squad field umpire and long time friend and supporter of the AFLUA, Colin Newcombe has passed away after an eight month battle with cancer.

Week after week for 21 years, Mark Thommo Thomson has trained and prepared his body to umpire AFL Football. Since his first appointment back in 1996 to Adelaide Vs Sydney, Thommo has umpired in 28 Finals, 5 Grand finals (including the 2010 replay), and a substantial amount of Adelaide showdowns. This Friday night, Thommo reaches game number 350. Thommo sits in second place on the all-time boundary umpires list, streets ahead of the other 570 boundary umpires without a hint of slowing down. He only sits behind fellow Adelaide champion Darren Wilson. When Thommo walks out onto Adelaide Oval this Friday night, he will also be regarded by his peers as a champion of our game.

Mat (Nicho) Nicholls got involved in umpiring for some pocket money and to lose some weight back in the Diamond Valley Football League in 1992. He is now one of the most elite and professional umpires at the AFL level in 2017. This weekend Nicho walks out to officiate in his 300 AFL match. This is complimented by 18 Finals, 2 Grand Finals, International Rules Series and an AFL life membership. It is also complimented by his exquisite decision making, cool, calm and collected demeanour and his professional approach to the game.

Warragul boy, Chris Roberts walked onto the MCG on Saturday in the Geelong v Hawthorn match very proud of his 200 game milestone.  His good mate, Chris Gordon estimated that Chris has travelled up and down the Princes Highway to the tune of 122,400 kilometres to undertake his role.  Now that’s passion and commitment.  Chris’ total of 200 games includes 7 finals.  Chris had a wretched run with injury and illness over the 2015-16 season’s, only umpiring 15 games in total over the two years but he has returned to full fitness this season umpiring 16 games to date.  Well done Robbo. (See the article on Robbo’s career on our website)

Imagine telling Robert Flower, Robert DiPierdomenico or Mark ‘‘Jacko’’ Jackson to ease up on the football field.

612km or 9 hours is the amount of travel and time it takes boundary umpire Chris Roberts to commute every week to ensure he is fulfilling his role. This weekend after 122,400 km of total travel, Chris, or (Robbo), or (nicknames we can’t disclose here), will umpire in his 200th AFL match on Saturday afternoon at the MCG. An amazing achievement and dedication to elite boundary umpiring. 

Boundary umpire Rob Haala, becomes the 12th boundary umpire in the history of VFL/AFL football to reach the imposing milestone of 300 games.  Rob umpired the Collingwood v Essendon game at the MCG, an iconic venue and in a clash of traditional rivals.  Rob becomes the fastest boundary umpire to achieve this feat in 13 years and 82 days.

Former VFL boundary umpire, Graham Carbery, died on Wednesday after a long illness.  Carbery umpired 145 VFL games, including five finals.  He loved umpiring.  His career was different to every boundary umpire in VFL/AFL history.

Umpiring has been a family affair in community football leagues across the country for generations. We know whom those families are when we think about our first foray into umpiring as youngsters.