Local umpires take to the main stage

During March local AFL fans in Northern NSW were treated to an experience of a lifetime as many AFL activities came to the area.

One of the highlights included an AFL NAB Challenge match on Saturday 12 March with the Sydney Swans doing battle with last year’s Grand Finalists St Kilda at the Coffs Harbour International Stadium.

As part of the match local junior umpires were given the opportunity to meet and greet the AFL umpires on the night, while also being involved in half time Auskick.

Two lucky umpires they were also selected to be ball stewards for the match.

The night started with two representative matches being played between AFL North Coast and Mid North Coast, with local juniors Nick Bailey and Shannon McDonald given the opportunity to control the match.

These matches were battled out in the Under 13 and Under 15 age groups as part of the lead up to the main match.

After this match Shannon McDonald then joined Liam Carrol, an umpire from Port Macquarie, to enter the umpire rooms and take up the official role of ball stewards for the night.

Both umpires were extremely excited about this role having the chance to sit directly behind the goals and look after the spare match footballs while also interacting with the AFL umpires.

Nick Bailey, fresh from his umpiring duties earlier in the night, then joined Joshua and Jacob Corliss from Coffs Harbour, and Courtney Harrison who had driven from Inverell over 300km away in north western NSW, to take part in half time Auskick.

This activity meant that the juniors got to warm up with the AFL umpires Shaun Ryan, Ray Chamberlain and Troy Pannell, while also being on the field for the toss of the coin, and then getting to catch up with  the umpires again after the match.

Umpire Development Officer Carl Fletcher said it was a great experience for all involved.

“The opportunity for local junior umpires to meet and interact with AFL umpires was an invaluable experience that will stay with these juniors for a long time,” Fletcher said.

“All of the juniors got a massive buzz from the experience and are all looking forward to umpiring throughout season 2011.”