VFL boundary umpire Harrison Bell will make his AFL debut this weekend, when Essendon host the Gold Coast Suns at Marvel stadium.
In doing so, he’ll be following a trail blazed by his father Michael Bell, who boundary umpired 217 games across an eleven year AFL career.
Bell’s umpiring journey began in 2016 as a twelve-year-old umpiring with the South Gippsland Umpires Association in Leongatha, officiating junior games to earn his post match “pie and can of coke.”
In a 2022 interview with ABC radio Gippsland, Bell told Gladys Serugga what attracted him to umpiring.
“You get paid at the end of the game, it’s really good for fitness, and it’s a really good spot on the ground where you can see everything.”
In 2022 at 18, Bell was promoted to the state league development squad. Since then he’s gone on to umpire 32 Coates league games, one VFLW game, and 35 VFL games.
Bell took his umpiring to the next level in 2024. Having earned a place in the AFLW squad, he was named as emergency boundary umpire for the 2024 AFLW Grand Final in his first season.
Like many who take up the whistle, umpiring runs in Harrison Bell’s blood.
Michael Bell receiving his AFLUA life Membership.
Harrison’s father Michael started his umpiring career as a 15 year old in the Eastern Football League. He was promoted to the VFL in 1993 and umpired his first AFL match in 1996.
Michael went on to umpire 217 AFL games including 13 finals. Except for his first season on the list, Michael umpired at least one final in each of his 11-year career.
An association executive member for three years between 2003 and 2005, Michael won the Murray Williams Shield three times, having been recognised by his peers for both his on-field excellence and off-field commitment to the association.
Michael was elected as a life member of the AFLUA in 2005, before being inducted to the AFLUA Hall of Fame in 2015.
Whilst it’s not uncommon for sons to follow their fathers into umpiring, it’s rare for both to make it at the elite level.
Since 1914 there have been 19 other father/son combinations in the VFL/AFL, the most prominent of which being the McMurrays. Jack Snr and Jack Jnr combined for 519 VFL games in their careers from 1917 to 1955.
Now that he’s opened the door to umpire at the highest level, Harrison will have the opportunity to forge his own career in the AFL. And who knows, maybe, in just 303 games time, he and his dad could share the record for most games between a father and son.
Good luck and run well Harrison!
Article by Jackson Kerr