Umpire group breeding talent

Wimmera-mallee football umpire leaders emphasise strong mutual respect and community sentiment maintain the region’s high-standard relationship between umpires and players.

AFL Wimmera Mallee Director of Umpiring Cameron Pickering said while the AFL was notably ‘clamping’ down on unacceptable behaviour towards umpires in 2022, the relationship between umpires and players in the Wimmeramallee was ‘a few years ahead’ in establishing player-umpire rapport.

“The game here already has that positive relationship. That has been nurtured by all the clubs, the leagues, the umpires and the players, who have bought into the overlap between the football community and the broader community,” he said.

“Individuals and community are more important than club parochialism. In the end – we all love footy.”

Mr Pickering said football in the Wimmeramallee fostered a great connection between umpires and players.

“The AFL is just catching up to how we do it. While the new interpretation was a shock at first, it will settle down. They are doing the right thing because it has been ordinary with what some players have been able to get away with,” he said.

“But as has been said, there is no new rules on umpire interaction, really. It has always been in the rule book, but it has been tolerated and let go too far.”

Mr Pickering said while umpires at the elite level might be able to handle it, inappropriate professional player and umpire interactions trickled down through the levels.

“AFL umpires are at the top of their game; they can maybe take the abuse. But at grass roots, there is a fall out,” he said.

“At the elite level it might be okay, but that doesn’t consider the impact it has on the other levels of competition or the development of umpires.”

Mr Pickering said he remained excited about the continued progression of talented junior umpires in the region as the 2022 season approached.

Dimboola footballer Matthew Reichelt and Horsham Saints footballer Tadhg Mcgrath umpired in a Greater Western Rebels boys practice match at Ballarat, as part of the Greater Western Rebels Community Umpire Academy.

Horsham Saints netballer and national triathlete Sienna Walsgott also joined the Rebels umpire academy.

“This was another valuable experience for them as members of the Greater Western Victoria Rebels Academy,” Mr Pickering said.

“They also attended a four-hour clinic with AFL umpires where they received valuable tips, guidance and coaching from the best in the business.

“These AFL Wimmera-mallee umpires are fantastic examples of how you can combine playing with your local club with umpiring.”

Mr Pickering said simultaneous pursuit of professional umpire and player pathways was great for people seeking multiple elite pathways into professional sport.

“This academy’s exposure to umpiring pathways can take you all the way to the highest level,” he said.

Wimmera-mallee umpires hosted a come-andtry and bring-a-friend day on Monday.

AFL Umpiring Growth and Development coordinator Andrew Talbot will visit Wimmera schools on Monday for students interested in exploring an umpiring pathway.

Mr Pickering said umpiring often gave aspiring footballers further ‘reading the play’ experience that benefitted their football development.

He said he did not want to interrupt people playing football, but emphasised to people hanging up their boots – ‘this is the perfect gig’.

Umpire training is on Mondays at Horsham City Oval from 6pm.