Huge weekend for NSW/ACT umpires
It will be a memorable weekend for the local NSW/ACT umpires officiating in the inaugural North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) Grand Final in Alice Springs on Saturday.
Nathan Elsworthy has been given the prestigious opportunity of being appointed to field umpire while Robert Taylor will run the boundary and Dale Puren will goal umpire.
It is a fantastic achievement for the three umpires who have shown tremendous skill, consistency and talent throughout the NEAFL season.
They’ll all travel together to Alice Springs for the blockbuster match between NT Thunder and Ainslie being held at Traeger Park.
AFL NSW/ACT State Umpiring Manager Graham Glassford congratulated all umpires on their appointments.
“With the advent of the NEAFL competition umpires have a clear pathway through to the AFL,” Glassford said.
“The NEAFL Grand Final in Alice Springs provides Nathan, Robert and Dale with the experience of travelling and then officiating a high pressure game.
“They’ll also get to work with other umpires that have been selected from the Northern Conference which again provides another opportunity to learn and develop.”
Elsworthy, 24, is currently a member of the AFL/ASC High Performance Umpiring Academy. Currently completing his PhD in Sports Science at University of Newcastle, he also gained valuable experience at the 2010 NAB Under 18 Championships.
Running the boundary during the match will be 21-year-old Robert Taylor from Sydney, who was appointed to the AFL Sydney grand final in his debut season in 2007. He has since been involved in two more grand finals with arguably his biggest match coming up this weekend.
In goals will be Dale Puren from Canberra who, at just 25, has already been involved in more than 100 State League matches and four grand finals.
All umpires will no doubt be motivated by currently-listed AFL umpire, Sydney local Michael Saunders who will officiate the Geelong v West Coast preliminary final on Saturday.
An impressive performance in the match will give Saunders every possible opportunity to umpire in the 2011 Toyota AFL Grand Final.
Best of luck to all umpires this week and congratulations on your appointments.
