Eden girl blows whistle on MCG

This article first appeared in the Eden Magnet

By Jacob McMaster

After moving to Melbourne last year to pursue a career in umpiring she has made history last Saturday being the central umpire in an exhibition match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). 

The match was an exhibition game played prior to a Melbourne Demons v Bulldogs headline  performance. Kirkby is the first umpire that began their career in SCAFL to ever umpire a game at the MCG.

Umpiring a match at the MCG is Kirkby’s second record breaking effort in the sport as she was the first female to umpire a senior game in SCAFL and ultimately a senior grand final.

Kirkby said the opportunity to umpire at the MCG was fantastic when she spoke the Magnet yesterday. 

“That game will go down in history, it was totally dominated by females so it will leave a mark on the history of the game,” Kirkby said.

Speaking about her first appearance on the national level she said to be on centre-stage at the MCG was breath-taking.

“It was amazing, it was crazy, I really can’t find the words to describe how good it was. 

“I was just standing in the middle of the field taking it all in.”

Kirkby found the players to be very respectful and did not give her any grief.

“They were really well disciplined, none of them gave me any back-chat or anything like that.”

She said that it was a real honour to be out on the field and was delighted to have her parents in attendance.

“Mum and dad were there and nan and my boyfriend too.” 

Kirkby is working hard towards her dream of one day umpiring an AFL grand final.

“We do some training at Bisy Park which is Carlton’s ground, so we’ve had experience with big grounds, but stepping out on the MCG was something else.

“The match was a really good stepping stone and I’m keen to take my career forward.

“My main aim right now is to make the move into the VFL and then in a year or two step up to the AFL.”

The opportunity came about as part of Kirkby’s training at the Female Umpires Academy in Melbourne.  There she is part of a 17- female strong squad of umpires who are all in training to take on the top job. The academy sent scouts to check out her umpiring last year.

“I must have done something right because I was selected into the academy,” she said. 

“The academy is great, you meet a lot of girls who also love to umpire.”

She began her umpiring career in Eden at the early age of 10. 

“I was always at the games with my dad (Paul), then my brother (Kane) got into it, so I thought I might as well do something while I was there instead of sitting around watching.” 

She umpired the boundaries for three years, then the goals for two years before making her move to the centre position at just 15-years-old. 

“It was a bit nerve-racking because I was so small. They (the players) were fine with me at the start when I was boundary umpiring, but when I started field umpiring the players were a bit “iffy” about it.

“But after a while the players started getting used to me and I was treated no different than anyone else.”

Kirkby said while most people were keen to get on the field and play umpiring had a special calling for her. 

“I played a little when I was younger but I didn’t have the best coordination, but umpiring just came more naturally to me.”

She said that she was extremely grateful to the Eden community for throwing its support behind her. 

“Thank you to everyone whose supported me over the years.

“Especially a huge thank you to Dave Bolton for everything that he has taught me and of course my parents who have supported my move to Melbourne.”

In a mostly male dominated role Kirkby said that umpiring was something more females should get into. 

“It’s good fitness and a great game to be a part of. 

“I think there should be more females in the sport and I encourage anyone thinking about giving it a go to get out there and try it.”