O’Dea to make AFL debut

The 21-year-old was offered an AFL goal umpiring contract before the 2014 season, after an outstanding run which included officiating in three cross-conference NEAFL Grand Finals and several AFL Canberra deciders.

O’Dea follows in the footsteps of fellow goal umpires Katrina Pressley and Chelsea Roffe, who became the first and second females respectively to wave the flags at AFL level.

Speaking to AFL.com.au earlier this week, O’Dea admitted she was a mixture of nerves and excitement ahead of her debut.

You only get one debut so you just want it to go well, and you’ve been working very hard for a very long time,” O’Dea said.

“Then all of a sudden the day’s here and it’s a strange feeling.

“Every time I think about it I get a swooping sensation in my stomach, so I try not to think about it too much.”

AFL NSW Umpire Manager Steve Keating says O’Dea is well-equipped to excel at the highest level.

“Rose has had a meteoric rise through the ranks; she’s a very good goal umpire, very smart and really driven,” he said.

“To break through to the top flight at such a young age is a fantastic achievement, Rose has plenty of time on her side, and I have no doubt she has a very long and successful career in front of her.”

O’Dea isn’t a typical umpire.

Remarkably young, very intelligent – O’Dea is studying her honours in Biology at the Australian National University – with her own unique style of preparation.

While the majority officials are full of enthusiasm before a match, O’Dea take a much more subdued approach, preferring to sit and read a novel rather than listen to upbeat music or bounce around the rooms.

The routine helps her keep calm and composed in the lead-up to big games, and with a goal of “wanting to get out alive,” in her first season, O’Dea will need all her wits about her.