More than just a whistle-stop tour
UMPIRING footy has proved a bright idea for Sunny Ngan – and he is hopeful it will be for others, too.
Since joining the Geelong Football Umpires League three years ago, Ngan has risen up the ranks to now be officiating in senior football in the region.
“(It’s) a new hobby and I’ve met a lot of new people, which has changed my life,” he said.
Ngan originally balanced umpiring with his playing commitments at St Mary’s, but now has the whistle full-time and said he hoped more people would join the fraternity.
Speaking during Community Umpiring Week, the high school student said: “You should join because we just need more umpires to umpire the good game of footy . . . (it’s) a great game.”
It is a call echoed by fellow whistleblower Chris Jones, whose journey started with his son’s under-12 team and has turned into a career spanning more than a decade.
Previously a player with Grovedale and Inverleigh, Jones said he encouraged more former footballers to give it a go.
“I retired (at the) end of 2006. I didn’t want to play footy any more, had a few concussions, so thought I’ll give umpiring a go,” he said.
“I love it, I used to love playing but this is the next best thing.”
The pathway from local umpiring to higher levels is now more clear, and one boundary umpire, Cooper Geall, is travelling.
Now in his sixth year, Geall officiates VFLW and NAB League games.
“It’s been a good journey having all these different academies and getting to meet all the other potential umpires that you could umpire with in the future,” he said.
AFL Barwon umpiring and football co-ordinator and AFL umpire David Harris said Geall (below) was one example of someone who had benefited from the pathway.
“I was fortunate with Jock (Hillgrove) to start up an academy . . . where we wanted to get all the kids that showed potential, just give them the skills and the knowledge to be able to take that next step,” Harris said.
“Cooper’s been a part of that academy for probably the last two or three years.
“The fact that we’ve got that pathway program now, it gives all umpires an opportunity to be able to strive and reach that next level.”