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.
They are a proud group so I have no doubt they would’ve got around each other and celebrated that little achievement and vowed to work together for the remainder of the year.
The first game for four points was played at TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs on Saturday afternoon with not one native Victorian umpire in the team. The Dalgleish brothers from WA combined with a Tasmanian and eight South Australians to officiate in the game. (Schmitt and Foot now reside in Victoria)
Essendon coach Mark Thompson and field umpire, Shane McInerney were caught on camera having some friendly banter prior to the start of the Dreamtime at the ‘G game on Saturday night. Wasn’t it great to see two men under pressure relieving some of the pre-match tension having a laugh and enjoying each other’s company. * Please see video courtesy of the Essendon Football Club, posted on the front page of the AFLUA website.
Field umpire Troy Pannell has still not regained full fitness following his clash with Sydney player Nick Malceski. He was appointed to the round 11 fixture between Western Bulldogs v Fremantle but on Thursday morning after his first week of full training he was still not certain he was ready to umpire.
Field umpire Rob O’Gorman finally got to umpire a contest. As we noted last week his three previous AFL games saw a points differential of 345 between the competing teams. Yesterday he was involved in a seven point thriller at the MCG when Hawthorn just hung on to beat GWS.
Jordan Bannister just wants to umpire a game of footy and will go anywhere to do it. Jordan was injured in his third game back in round 8. He was ready to resume in the VFL on the weekend but with only a state match being played between the VFL and the SANFL, he was forced to seek an appointment in the Eastern Football League to get in some more practice.
South Australian AFL rookie umpire Curtis Deboy had a big weekend in Melbourne. He was appointed to umpire the VFL v SANFL state game at Port Melbourne on Saturday and had to back up as the emergency field umpire at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Curtis was the only listed AFL umpire to officiate in the game. The other field umpires were VFL based, Jack Edwards and Nick Brown. Ex AFL umpires Jason Moore (boundary) and Steve Paunovic (goal) were also appointed to the game representing South Australia. Other VFL appointees were James Scully and Ben Macdonald (boundary) and Sam Walsh (goal).
Pictured: AFL Rookie Umpire – Curtis Deboy 