Young guns kicking goals in rep games
MAX Visintin will enjoy a late birthday present on Saturday after being selected to umpire this weekend’s representative match between Victoria Country and the VAFA.
Visintin, who was ranked AFL Barwon’s No.1 boundary umpire last season, will be joined by Geelong field umpire Josh Robertson for the marquee game.
It will be the second straight year Visintin, who turns 17 tomorrow, has umpired the match. He also oversaw the GFL country championship match against the Mornington Peninsula this year; his performance there earning him this weekend’s honours.
“That was a great experience, umpiring on the MCG,” Visintin said.
“Such a big ground and you just look at the stadium and think, ‘Wow’. It was pretty amazing.”
Visintin and Robertson are on the VFL rookie squad, in which they head to Melbourne once a month for training.
Visintin is hoping to carry his good form into the second half of the season to maintain his place in this year’s GFL grand final line-up.
“Yeah another GFL grand final this year, hopefully, and hopefully maintain that ranking as No.1 boundary umpire in Geelong,” he said.
“This weekend is another step closer to that dream. Hopefully I’ll get on to the VFL list next year.”
AFL Barwon regional director of umpiring Jock Hillgrove said it was a feather in Geelong’s cap.
“It just continues the role Geelong umpires have played in this game each year,” Hillgrove said. “We’re proud of the process, proud of the guys and proud of their performances.”
Visintin umpired last year’s game with Geelong colleagues Nick Murnane, Nick Ross-Watson and Sian Atkins.
“Sian’s up at the VFL now, Nick Murnane’s decided to have a year off and Nick Ross-Watson, he did the game at the MCG, the Geelong footy league against Mornington Peninsula,” Hillgrove said.
“We’re very well represented at the higher echelon of community football.
“Geelong had around 35 umpires involved in the country championships. Colac had maybe one or two, but as an AFL Barwon region, we had a good 35-40 represented.”
He said “we would have had near 50 again like we’ve had every other year”, had it not been for scheduling and the loss of BFL games.