Nick Phillips is the latest addition to the AFL Boundary Umpires List for season 2022.
He cut his teeth into officiating in 2010 in the Northern Football League. What began as a motivation to stay fit for athletics in the summer and stay connected with the game as he “wasn’t the best at football”, Nick has surged ahead steadily to add to his growing reputation.
He brings an impressive record to the list with 36 AFLW matches under his belt, including the 2019 and the 2021 AFLW Grand Finals. He has further umpired 57 VFL matches, including the 2019 VFL Grand Final.
Hailing from Melbourne’s north-east, the young umpire recently reflected on his experience of being involved in the grandest games of them all. “The 2019 AFLW Grand Final and the VFL Grand Final were great fun, because I got to umpire with one of my best mates Kieran Ferguson. But they were all great experiences; they all taught me different things,” he said. “They are games that I will think back on and be proud of.”
A Physical Education and Mathematics teacher outside of the oval, Nick ranks athletics as his go-to choice of participation sport. “But I enjoy watching most sports,” he added.
On being quizzed about his umpiring idol, Nick said, “I don’t think that I can just pick one person. There are different aspects of certain umpire’s games that I aspire to be like. People that have done grand finals at AFL level are umpires that I look up to.”
Congratulations Nick, on your inclusion to the AFL List. We wish you the best for the upcoming season.
Image:
Nick Phillips during the 2021 AFLW Grand Final match between the Adelaide Crows and the Brisbane Lions at the Adelaide Oval (April 17, 2021) (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)