Leading AFL umpires head west

(Photo: Jason O'Brien/AFL Media)

Three of the AFL’s elite umpires will head to the Central West of New South Wales on Tuesday for an AFL Umpire Roadshow.

The first stop for the officials will be in Dubbo for the Paul Kelly Cup before visiting the Dubbo Demons later in the evening.

The aim of the three-day event is to educate the community around the rules of the game and demonstrate how to respect umpires.

The roadshow moves to Orange on Tuesday and ends in Bathurst on Thursday.

State Umpiring Manager Damian Anderson also hopes the initiative will encourage more people to umpire and play footy with their local clubs.

“The roadshow gives us the chance to take the AFL’s top umpires back to community competitions to help promote the opportunities in umpiring,” Mr Anderson said.

Here’s the schedule for the AFL Umpire Roadshow in the Central West of New South Wales:

Tuesday – Paul Kelly Cup at Dubbo, Dubbo Demons

Wednesday – Orange High School, Canobolas Rural Technology High School, Bathurst Bushrangers

Thursday – Kelso High School, Raglan Primary School

Field umpire Brent Wallace will attend the event to share an insight into the AFL’s umpire pathway program.

Wallace made a successful transition to the program after playing in the VFL for Box Hill.

He’s also the son of former Hawthorn Premiership player and Western Bulldogs and Richmond coach Terry Wallace.

Goal umpire Stephen Williams and boundary umpire Adam Coote are also a part of the roadshow and will share their own experiences in football umpiring.

For more on the AFL’s umpiring initiatives click here or visit the AFL NSW/ACT Umpiring site.