By Julia Gauchi
When we talk about recruitment and the pathway into AFL umpiring you could be excused for looking to the larger centralised organisations that service community football.
In the last few weeks a number of umpires have achieved 50 game milestones and they are predominantly coming from Melbourne’s western suburbs. The Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) has been usurped by the Western Region Football League (WRFL) as the nations most productive AFL umpire nursery.
Eight current AFL umpires started in the WRFL, elder statesman David Dixon (301 AFL games) leads the group which includes, Pannell, Jones, Esler, Kowalski, Morrison, Mather and Craig, compared to five from the VAFA. Meredith and Donlon via the Moorabbin Saints, Jenkinson, Cusack and Sydney based Michael Saunders. Our player to umpire pathway umpires who are currently listed, Bannister, Fisher and Wallace have all developed their skills in the VAFA as part of their learning but I have not included them starting their careers with the Ammo’s.
Speaking with the western region boys, anecdotally they believe it was the quality of their environment and their coaches in their formative years that propelled them into the VFL and on to the AFL. Tim Morrison was adamant that in his mind ex AFL umpire and Head of Umpiring at the Western Region, Gavin Deller set the tone and gave the group confidence to take on their challenges of self improvement. David Dixon’s first coach in the Western Region was current AFL goal umpire’s coach, Rod Davies. Many of the other boundary umpires were coached by ex AFL boundary umpire and current observer, Alan Cook. Paul Saville and current Manager of WRFL umpires, Mark Westgarth are also ex AFL umpires who have coached and managed the group over many years.
For the FULL STORY, click here...
Last Modified on 03/06/2014 11:59