Umpiring reflections from ‘Razor’ Ray

By Sam Canavan

They say it takes a special character to be an AFL umpire, and character is something Ray Chamberlain’s got in spades.

Short in stature but huge in personality, it’s hard to believe Chamberlain’s pushing towards 40; he’s as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as a man just beginning his career, not one who’s been in the elite AFL system for a decade.

It’s easy to see why the media has latched onto the man dubbed ‘Razor’ by radio and TV personality Brian ‘BT’ Taylor.

Articulate and forthright with a wicked sense of humour, Chamberlain’s as quick with a one-liner as he is with the whistle, and indeed in his 5km time trials, which have hovered around the 17-minute mark for the entirety of his career.

While he’s a passionate advocate for all things umpiring nowadays, he fell into it by accident as a teenager.

“I went to watch my brother play a game, and the umpire didn’t turn up, and they asked me if I wanted to do it,” Chamberlain recalls.

“I had never even really considered it before, but I gave it a go and really liked it, and the feedback from parents and officials afterwards was great.

“I was encouraged to pursue umpiring, and from that point on I was hooked.”

Chamberlain began a period where he’d umpire juniors in the morning and play U18 football in the afternoons, but while he “played footy and loved it,” it soon became apparent where his talents lay.

“I worked in through the umpiring pathway in Canberra: juniors, U19s, representative games, senior football, U18 National Championships, and AFL reserves,” Chamberlain says.

“There was nobody under 30 doing AFL reserves footy, so I got picked to go up and do Swans reserves games in my early twenties.

“It was a big opportunity, and I thought it was brilliant!”

Chamberlain’s rapid ascension continued, travelling interstate and umpiring in the Victorian Football League (VFL), before he entered into the elite system, debuting in the AFL umpiring Hawthorn and West Coast in Round 15, 2004.

Now Chamberlain is a veteran and arguably the most recognisable face in the umpiring fraternity, and he’s not planning on stepping away from the game he loves anytime soon, with the “huge competitive element and prospect of umpiring Grand Finals” continuing to motivate the 37-year-old.

Chamberlain also enjoys watching and mentoring the next generation of officials, including Canberra’s Rose O’Dea, who was this year added to the elite AFL goal umpiring group.

“Rose is a fantastic story; she’s a very intelligent girl and a good goal umpire, and it’s an extra bonus she’s from the region,” Chamberlain says.

“There’s a big future in the game for Rose as she’s still so young, and her ascension to the AFL is a testament to the quality of the amazing umpire pathway in Canberra; the people, training, grounds and facilities are all absolutely top class.”

Away from umpiring Chamberlain runs a financial services company, and while he enjoys the work, it pales in comparison to the “best job in the world.”

“Umpiring is a fantastic thing to do, and it gives you so much on so many levels,” Chamberlain says.

“Not only is umpiring great fun, you learn a whole new skills set which is transferable to many other areas of life; such as the capacity to make decisions and give directions, and the best way to be composed under pressure.

“I can’t speak highly enough of umpiring, and I’d encourage absolutely anybody to give it a go, as it’s incredibly rewarding.”

For more information about umpiring head to umpireafl.com.au