NSW/ACT umpires set for U18 Champs
Aaron Langdon (field umpire), Dan Field-Read (boundary umpire), Patrick Jackson (boundary umpire), and Brodie Kenny-Bell (goal umpire) will join a host of other talented young umpires from across the country in officiating during the Championships, which run until the middle of July.
All four have been umpiring at second-tier level in the NEAFL for at least two seasons, remarkably, Jackson has umpired more than 50 NEAFL games at the age of 17.
With the structure of the elite underage competition changing from a week-long carnival to a season running for two months, the umpires will get a much more realistic snapshot of the experience of an AFL umpire; flying in and out of capital cities and staying in hotels overnight.
Langdon, who played junior football before finding a passion for umpiring, will feature in three games across the carnival; including fixtures at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium and Perth’s Patersons Stadium, while Field-Reid will officiate in one match at Simmonds Stadium in Geelong, and Jackson and Kenny-Bell will umpire a game each at Etihad Stadium.
AFL NSW/ACT Umpire Manager Steve Keating is rapt his charges will have the chance to earmark themselves as future elite AFL umpires, with U18 selection a key part of the umpiring talent pathway.
“It’s a fantastic result to have four umpires from the region selected, who now get the opportunity to put themselves up in lights on a big stage,” Keating said.
“Aaron, Dan, Pat, and Brodie should be very proud of themselves, as they all all been identified by umpiring development staff as being prospective future elite AFL umpires, which is very exciting.
“They’re all very talented, and work hard at becoming better at their craft, and I think there’s a big future in the game for all four.”
Langdon, Field-Read, Jackson, and Kenny-Bell will all be in contention for spots on the AFL’s elite umpiring list at the end of the season, bidding to join young Canberra goal umpire Rose O’Dea, who was last year added to the group.
