Jason Venkataya represented umpiring with distinction at the AFL opening of the Multi-cultural round. Jason was part of a panel interviewed by Jason Mifsud, AFL head of diversity. He outlined his families journey to Australia, his introduction to footy and why it was important for his connection to Australia’s culture. Jason also gave an insight into what umpiring meant to him.
It was a case of “old home week” for a number of the AFL umpires last weekend when our Tassie boys went back to Blundstone Arena and a welcome home. Scott Jeffery hadn’t been back since 1998 when he travelled to Melbourne to pursue his dream of AFL footy. While Nick Foot hasn’t been gone that long (2013) I have no doubt he enjoyed the opportunity as well. Goal umpire, Mark Ensbey still lives in Hobart and so he got his first “home game” along with rookie field umpire who also lives in Hobart, Ben Lehner. In fact our only other 2014 Tasmanian listed umpire, Mitch Lefevre was an obvious omission until he was seen sunning himself in Cairns prior to the Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Suns game.
While two of our senior umpires made solid comebacks on the weekend in the VFL, that was soured by a serious calf injury to our new Friday night specialist, Chris Kamolins. Chris was replaced at three-quarter time in the North Melbourne v. Hawthorn game by Matthew Leppard after tearing his calf late in the third. Channel Seven showed Chris’s complete frustration during the break when he threw his whistle into the ground after realising the extent of the injury. He could spend the next four weeks on the sidelines.
Justin Schmitt qualified for AFL life membership when he umpired the Hawthorn v. Collingwood match in round 14. Justin has umpired 271 home and away games plus practice matches and overseas exhibition matches bringing his total to 300. Congratulations Justin.
Boundary umpire Mitch Lefevre celebrated his 150th game on the weekend. Mitch, who commenced his career in Tasmania and moved to Melbourne in 2008 when he made the AFL list is one of the most liked team men in the group. Mitch has umpired six finals. See more on Mitch later in the week.
Goal umpire, Mark Canning just keeps on racking up the milestones. Mark now moves into third place on the list of all matches goal umpired in the VFL/AFL. Now with 312 games he moved one match ahead of previously third placed Colin Hood. Mark’s match totals include 20 finals and two grand finals. Mark’s career commenced in 1994 and is now into his 21st year as an AFL goal umpire. Only Craig Clark on 334 matches and David Flegg on 337 are ahead of him.
It has taken 11 rounds of AFL footy but we finally got all of the Queensland boundary umpires on the field at the one time. Injury, illness and form has stifled the groups push to achieve that goal.
Field umpire, Justin Schmitt was back for his first AFL match since tearing a calf in round 3. Justin umpired the GWS v Richmond game. Troy Pannell was still suffering from the knock he received over a week ago and was struggling to train last week.
The long weekend of football started in great fashion in Adelaide, with the largest crowd for a home and away game in Adelaide making so much noise that the umpires still haven’t heard the three quarter time siren. What a way for Heath Ryan to bring up his 100th AFL match.