News

Justin’s last words to me yesterday afternoon as he reflected on his retirement presentation were, “I don’t know how they did it Pete.  The conditions were oppressive.”

Newly elected AFLUA President, Chris Kamolins took the reins from his predecessor, Stefan Grun last Tuesday night at the AGM.

Talking to newly listed Dan Field-Read today brought back many memories of the last man I knew to change umpiring disciplines at State League level.  Evergreen, AFLUA life member, 256 AFL games and 3 time grand final boundary umpire, Allan Cook started his career in Melbourne as a VFL listed field umpire before being talked into a career change and made his AFL debut in 1991 as a boundary umpire.

Wye River was the base for the AFL Field Umpires 2015 preseason camp conducted last weekend. In pretty surrounds about 20km past Lorne, the beach and steep hills made it the perfect place to test the physical capability and strength of the squad, whilst also providing a great opportunity for the newly listed umpires and rookies from around the country to bond with the group.

Life member, special award recipient and AFLUA Hall of Fame member, JR as he is affectionately known, Jack Gray celebrates his ninetieth birthday on February 19.  Not one to like the focus of attention on him he was a little bemused when we rang to wish him a happy birthday from all here at the association.

The AFL will trial four field umpires in the pre-season competition, with the extra umpire possible in future premiership seasons.

Graeme Lindsay uttered these words when he umpired his last game on the VFL panel in 1972, “It was a very sad moment, a realisation that many great times as an active central umpire were at an end.  A true milestone in life’s journey.”  Graeme had umpired 168 VCFL games including 3 VCFL finals.  He was a member of the social committee for two years in 1967 and ’68.  Graeme was made a life member of the association in 1973.  Graeme commenced his umpiring career with the Geelong Umpires Association in 1953.  He progressed to the VFL Reserve Grade between 1958 and 1961.  When Graeme finished his VFL duties he returned to the Eastern District Football League for the 1973 season.

Jack began umpiring with the Northern Football League in 2004 and not long after realised his potential and set himself a long term goal to umpire in the AFL, 11 years later Jack is thriving under the pressure of pre-season training as a newly listed AFL field umpire.

Newly listed AFL goal umpire, Brodie Kenny-Bell has a passion for footy and loves a challenge. When we caught up with him for a chat about his footy he was already at training an hour and a half early, “work was not hectic so I thought I’d beat the Sydney traffic,” explained Brodie.