The first of our state games is played this weekend, when rivals SA come up against the Vic’s in Adelaide. Tune in to Channel 7’s telecast to see a good rivalry play out with some of the best young umpires also representing their states.
Some individuals make a meteoric rise in their chosen profession or interest area, the AFL’s newest boundary umpire Peter Bock is one of those.
It is not very often that a twenty year old is appointed to umpire an AFL game but Josh Garrett did just that, following in his dad’s footsteps, to officiate the West Coast vs Brisbane game on 27 March.
It is very rare indeed for a man who never umpired VFL or AFL football to receive one of the highest accolades our association can bestow on any individual, honorary life membership. That is what our association did in recognition of David Drane’s 20-year plus commitment to VFL umpires in 1985.
AFL boundary umpire, Darren Wilson officiated in his 400th AFL game on Friday night. Darren becomes the first boundary umpire and fifth umpire after, Hayden Kennedy (495) Shane McInerney (429) Rowan Sawers (410) and Stephen McBurney (401) to make 400 games. Interesting to note that Darren’s 400 games include 36 regular finals and 12 straight grand finals (1998 – 2009). His tally increases with four night grand finals, four state of origin games and an international rules game.
AFLUA life member, 300 AFL game boundary umpire and current VFL boundary coach Matt Vitiritti, sat Damien Cusack down at the end of the 2010 season and gave him a few home truths. “He said he thought I’d been at the VFL for too long and needed to work harder on a more consistent basis in order to take the next step,” reflected Damien today on the occasion of his 50th AFL game.
The wind roared through the deserted grandstands and the rain threatened the once hallowed turf that was once the home of SANFL football, the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide. Now it is only the training venue of Adelaide and the SANFL umpires. That didn’t deter 25 young Down syndrome participants and their parents from assembling in the centre of AAMI Park to learn how to become an umpire. There were the excited cries of “Go Crows” as the warm up started and then as the parents looked around the vast emptiness of the 50,000 seat stadium there were sighs of wow this is bigger than I thought it would be!
Boundary umpire Darren ‘’Whipper’’ Wilson will officiate in his 400th AFL match when Adelaide hosts Geelong at the Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
The third of our female goal umpires, Sally Boud made her AFL debut on Saturday evening in the Fremantle v GWS game. Sally who has had an extensive apprenticeship including two WAFL senior grand finals becomes only the fourth woman but 344th goal umpire to umpire AFL football. Sally had a tough initiation with a couple of great goal line gets first up. it can only get easier from here!