News

AFL goal umpire, David (Dicko) Dixon broke the games record for VFL/AFL goal umpires when he officiated in Saturday’s St. Kilda v Collingwood Game at the MCG.  It was Dicko’s 338th game which includes 32 finals and 6 grand finals.  It has taken him into his 18th season (1998 – 2016) to accumulate the tally of games.  He breaks the record of David Flegg who umpired for 21 years (1990-2011) 337 games including 19 finals and 3 grand finals. (See the interview with David later in the week)

Part of my work experience tasks was to write an article on AFL umpires.  So I went along to training on the 5th of April 2016. The umpires train at Ikon Park in Carlton. 

Goal umpire, Matt Dervan became the 341st goal umpire to officiate in a VFL/AFL game when he took to the field in the Essendon v Melbourne match at the MCG.  Matt’s parents were in the crowd to witness his AFL debut as was his VAFA mentor and ex AFL goal umpire, Clayton Evans.  There was a large contingent of goal umpires who arrived at the G to support a very nervous, yet excited Matt.  When we caught up with Matt today he described his experience as “awesome.”

AFLUA life member, Greg Sidebottom tragically passed away on Saturday, doing what he did best, umpiring football.  Greg collapsed during the last quarter of a game in Ardmona and could not be revived.

Giving oneself a kick up the backside for not achieving a fitness test without blaming others or looking for excuses is often the difference between success and failure in elite sports, be it officiating or actually playing the game. A decision to get his fitness up to the required levels has been the big difference in Alistair’s success which now finds him on the AFL Goal Umpires list for season 2016.

Leaving your comfort zone is often a challenge for many, whether it be work, education or even sport.

Gareth is proof that when you put you mind to something, you can make it happen. A State League hockey player, he finally took up his Dad’s repeated invitations to try boundary umpiring in 2012 and was promoted to the AFL list just four years later.

Three debutants all said the same thing when asked to describe their first games, “awesome.”

AFL UMPIRES boss Wayne Campbell has quit League HQ and will head north to head up football operations for Greater Western Sydney.