Becoming a rookie umpire and being part of the AFL Accelerated Development Program are career highlights for South Australian based Rookie Umpire Jamie Broadbent, who joins the rookie program in 2018.
After not making the 1st football team at Sacred Heart College in Adelaide, Jamie took his love of football elsewhere and became a field umpire with the Metro South Junior Football League in 2010. He joined the South Australian National Football League in 2011 and has umpired one Under 16 grand final, three Under 18 grand finals and 1 Reserves grand final in his seven years with that League.
Jamie’s parents are both the most influential people on his career to date – his mum for encouraging him to take up umpiring as a youngster and his dad for his support and coming to all games he umpires during the year. Leigh Haussen (Sticks) is this most admired umpire because of his approachable nature and he has been such a good role model for Jamie as a developing umpire.
Jamie has just completed studying Clinical Exercise Physiology (CEP) and has applied for a Masters in Physiotherapy which he hopes to start in 2018. He is a lover of all sport and enjoys swimming at the beach, lawn bowls, exploring and traveling, and a bit of Taylor Swift’s music.
We wish Jamie all the best for the year ahead.
Article written by: AFLUA Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Peter Kelly