Canberra umpires on track for AFL
Canberra based NEAFL umpires Scott Gordon and Dale Puren have been added to the AFL Umpires Panel for the 2013 season.
These two selections increase AFL NSW/ACT representation on both the AFL Boundary and Goal Umpiring Panel to five and three members respectively.
Puren joins James Savage as Canberra’s second goal umpire on AFL Panel but the Canberran has had a tough path to the top.
Now in his 11th season, he has stood behind the goals over 270 times with over 150 games at senior level.
“It’s great to see an umpire with as much experience as Dale get a chance at the highest level and the continued work by our Goal Umpires coach Colin Larter is definitely a big reason why we are seeing such great results from the region,” AFL Umpire Manager/Coach of the NSW region Steve Keating said.
Gordon has a much different story. Bursting onto the umpiring scene in 2009, Gordon began umpiring for AFL Canberra, winning the Best First Year Boundary Umpire Award.
He umpired his first senior match in 2010, before officiating in NAB Under-18s National Championships in 2011.
This season has seen Gordon establish himself as one of the ACT’s foremost boundary umpires as he was appointed to the NEAFL Eastern Conference Grand Final and the NEAFL Cross Conference Grand Final.
These efforts won him the NEAFL Most Outstanding Boundary Umpire for 2012 and he has capped off a remarkable season with his AFL listing.
“Scott has worked really hard over the past few years to get his fitness and technique to an extremely high level and this appointment is definitely warranted,” Keating said.
“It’s a true testament to the work of people like Aaron Broughton and Stewart Eckermann who have had a strong input into Scott’s technical development over the past few years.”
Gordon joins Luke Roberts, Michael Saunders, Chris Simms and Rob Taylor as listed AFL boundary umpires from NSW and the ACT.
DALE PUREN
– Commenced umpiring in AFL Canberra in 2002 (in excess of 270 matches by end of 2012)
– Umpired his First Senior match in 2003 (more than 150 senior matches by end of 2012)
– Appointed to ACT vs. QLD State match in 2004
– Umpired AFL Canberra Senior Grand Finals in 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006
– Umpired NEAFL Eastern Conference Grand Final in 2011 and 2012
– Umpired NEAFL Cross Conference Grand Final in Alice Springs in 2011
– Was a TAC Cup umpire 2010
– Officiated in NAB U18 National Championships 2010, 2009, 2008
– Has twice been awarded most outstanding Goal Umpire in ACT
– In 2011 was awarded inaugural NEAFL Most Outstanding Goal Umpire
SCOTT GORDON
– Commenced umpiring in AFL Canberra in 2009. – Best first year boundary umpire
– Umpired his First Senior match in 2010
– Appointed to QLD v NSW/ACT in 2012
– Umpired AFL Canberra Senior Grand Final in 2010
– Umpired NEAFL Eastern Conference Grand Final in 2012
– Umpired NEAFL Cross Conference Grand Final in 2012
– Officiated in NAB U18 National Championships 2011
– NEAFL Most Outstanding Boundary Umpire, 2012
