I’ve been doing work experience here at the AFL Umpire’s Association for the week between July 3 – July 7. I was asked to attend a training session on Tuesday July 4, and to write an article describing important aspects of the session, including the facilities being used, the drills conducted and how these differed to my expectations prior to this week.
From the six boundary umpires to debut in 2004, there stands just one in 2017. A man who will be only the 12th boundary umpire in history to walk out for 300 AFL matches this weekend. A man who also typifies the utmost professionalism, with a CV to match it: 24 finals, 3 Grand Finals, an International Rules Series and 5 ANZAC day matches. Rob Haala is this man, and this weekend on Saturday afternoon at the MCG in a match between Essendon and Collingwood, Rob joins the 300 club.
Former AFL footballer David Rodan will debut in his first AFL game this weekend as a goal umpire. David will partner Stephen Williams in the Nth Melbourne v Fremantle match this Sunday.
Boundary umpire, Adam Coote was back for his third game in 2017 on the weekend. Adam’s season has been scuttled by injury following a pre season operation. Adam now has 270 games to his name including 25 finals and 5 grand finals. Let’s hope he can finish off the year on a good note. Out of that game Chris Esler left the field at halftime with an achillies injury. The boundary umpires then had to revert to a three umpire system.
Luke Walker just keeps on keeping on. It’s an old cliche but a very apt one when thinking about Luke. In Luke’s 12th year on the list he continues to find the drive necessary to excel at the elite level. Luke umpired his 250th AFL game in Saturday nights thriller between the Bulldogs and Nth Melbourne. Only games record holder, David Dixon has umpired more finals than Luke and only Reginald Treloar (8) and Anthony Black (7) have officiated in more grand finals. Well done Luke.
Just hours after receiving the ultimate accolade from his sport highly decorated AFL field umpire Brett Allen maintained that a vocation as an umpire was never more appealing than in the current era.
Two umpires will celebrate milestones on Sunday afternoon at the St Kilda v Gold Coast Suns game – Brendan ‘Hosko’ Hosking will umpire his 100th AFL game alongside Hayden Gavine who walks onto the ground to umpire his 1st AFL game.
The AFLUA recently visited Leigh Fisher’s new café – the Cornerstone and Co – a small licenced café located in the leafy back streets of Hampton, to catch up with Hayden Gavine, who will umpire his first AFL game on Sunday.
Umpiring an AFL Grand Final is every umpires’ dream, doing six places you in a league of your own! Luke Walker, who will umpire his 250th AFL game this weekend, is ranked third in the all-time list of goal umpires appearing in grand finals.