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I did say questionably. Time has dulled the pain and allowed a sliver of self-doubt to creep in.
Umpiring moves
- Thread starter pazza
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- #427
How great it was to see that 3 ex VAFA umpires make the Grand Final. Just shows how good the development process is at HQ.
Over The Post
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Hell yes. Happy to bask in the reflected glory and be proud that I ran with two of them. As should we all be!
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- #429
I think many have been saddened by the passing of Ryan Robertson. Far too young.
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- #430
Tony Hales departs as coach and advisor, to be replaced by Russell Davidson
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I see that as a positive move
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- #432
Wandered down to EP for goal umpire training on Wednesday. Numbers good for February at around 40. Just a note that veteran goalie Bob Seymour is battling cancer. Still kicking but isn't having a great time of it.
Over The Post
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Congratulations to Matty Dervan on his 100th AFL game tonight. Proof that the maligned youf policy of VAFA grand finals does pay off. Well done that man!
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Well after threatening to come back every year and never quite making it, I think its time to officially announce my retirement. The kilos are getting harder to shift as time passes and now I've got a knee on the way out that will make fast movement off the line very hazardous.
I still regard my time in the VAFAUA as some of the best years of my life and I'm proud to have run with such a great pack of umps in a fantastic competition.
Highlights? C Section GFs at Trevor Barker. The drawn A Section semi at the Wick. The IC08 GF at the G. Running with Dommie and Chilli and Clayton.
Regrets? Of course. A couple of scoring errors (that fortunately didn't affect results) that I still stew about. Missing out on a couple of rep games by uncharacteristic, stupid little mistakes while being observed. Letting my pride get in the way after the Tom incident and Harry GF (dis)appointment and going to the WRFL in a huff. Not being able to break into either of the WRFL umpiring cliques (that the legendary Bantam Rooster had warned me about) resulting in mentoring kids and doing reserves and bottom-of-div3 games instead of umpiring anywhere near my level of competence.
But I'll always be grateful to the WRFL for the one time I was able to run out with my sons. Not many have done that.
So now it's the timekeepers bench for me, with the boundary umpire above now playing in the WRFL seniors. I'm free to barrack for my team and yell at the umpires. But I won't take the scorecard into the rooms after the final siren and hurl invective at the goalie who "cost us the game" - like the Brighton timekeeper who could (and still can) GAGF after I made the single best call of my career and denied them a goal.
I still regard my time in the VAFAUA as some of the best years of my life and I'm proud to have run with such a great pack of umps in a fantastic competition.
Highlights? C Section GFs at Trevor Barker. The drawn A Section semi at the Wick. The IC08 GF at the G. Running with Dommie and Chilli and Clayton.
Regrets? Of course. A couple of scoring errors (that fortunately didn't affect results) that I still stew about. Missing out on a couple of rep games by uncharacteristic, stupid little mistakes while being observed. Letting my pride get in the way after the Tom incident and Harry GF (dis)appointment and going to the WRFL in a huff. Not being able to break into either of the WRFL umpiring cliques (that the legendary Bantam Rooster had warned me about) resulting in mentoring kids and doing reserves and bottom-of-div3 games instead of umpiring anywhere near my level of competence.
But I'll always be grateful to the WRFL for the one time I was able to run out with my sons. Not many have done that.
So now it's the timekeepers bench for me, with the boundary umpire above now playing in the WRFL seniors. I'm free to barrack for my team and yell at the umpires. But I won't take the scorecard into the rooms after the final siren and hurl invective at the goalie who "cost us the game" - like the Brighton timekeeper who could (and still can) GAGF after I made the single best call of my career and denied them a goal.
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- Thread starter
- #435
Well after threatening to come back every year and never quite making it, I think its time to officially announce my retirement. The kilos are getting harder to shift as time passes and now I've got a knee on the way out that will make fast movement off the line very hazardous.
I still regard my time in the VAFAUA as some of the best years of my life and I'm proud to have run with such a great pack of umps in a fantastic competition.
Highlights? C Section GFs at Trevor Barker. The drawn A Section semi at the Wick. The IC08 GF at the G. Running with Dommie and Chilli and Clayton.
Regrets? Of course. A couple of scoring errors (that fortunately didn't affect results) that I still stew about. Missing out on a couple of rep games by uncharacteristic, stupid little mistakes while being observed. Letting my pride get in the way after the Tom incident and Harry GF (dis)appointment and going to the WRFL in a huff. Not being able to break into either of the WRFL umpiring cliques (that the legendary Bantam Rooster had warned me about) resulting in mentoring kids and doing reserves and bottom-of-div3 games instead of umpiring anywhere near my level of competence.
View attachment 1088241
But I'll always be grateful to the WRFL for the one time I was able to run out with my sons. Not many have done that.
So now it's the timekeepers bench for me, with the boundary umpire above now playing in the WRFL seniors. I'm free to barrack for my team and yell at the umpires. But I won't take the scorecard into the rooms after the final siren and hurl invective at the goalie who "cost us the game" - like the Brighton timekeeper who could (and still can) GAGF after I made the single best call of my career and denied them a goal.
Retirement happens to all of us. Have contemplated it a few times...particularly 2007-2010.
Enjoy it though.
Drifted into Brahton on the way home on Sat to see the influence of the Watts factor and, lo and behold, the little master was back weaving his magic with the calicos. A little paunchier and a tad slower but still ticks all the boxes. Pencil him in for the Prem GF unless the youth policy overrides all else.
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- #437
Out for the season. Have knee surgery this week - ruptured the patella tendon in my right knee
Over The Post
Bless you my children
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Shit that's no good mate. Best of luck for the recovery and once you're better in a few months, go back into light training to regain your fitness for next year.
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- #439
Yeah that might be the idea. That said I might be spotted on the sidelines closer to finals if the recovery goes well...Bernie is interested in having me in a role assisting him.
Over The Post
Bless you my children
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- Thread starter
- #442
Signed on for my 20th season officially next year - knee seems to enjoy the exercise I am putting into it! Haven't done a lot of jogging or running on it yet.
Apparently a number of the current younger umpires are into the VFL Academy next season across field, boundary and goal which proves that the Ammos continues to be a great breeding ground for up and coming umpiring talent.
Apparently a number of the current younger umpires are into the VFL Academy next season across field, boundary and goal which proves that the Ammos continues to be a great breeding ground for up and coming umpiring talent.
- Thread starter
- #443
Oh and expect a massive milestone very early in the season as a certain aforementioned umpire does game 900!
- Thread starter
- #444
Back on track tomorrow night. Knee feels good. The new umpire operations manager seems great so far.
Over The Post
Bless you my children
- Nov 17, 2007
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Goal umpire training in February? Has the world gone mad???
- Thread starter
- #447
Pretty stable with BJ in charge.
- Thread starter
- #448
Very much the usual suspects on the track.
Over The Post
Bless you my children
- Nov 17, 2007
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Well the impartial adjudicator of the scores made a long-threatened return to the Wick tonight, bravely carrying an injury and suffering post-omicron aerobic diminishment, determined to put in a showing in any case.
Traditionally it's the elite who put in the hard pre-season yards, and there were a few there tonight; unfortunately the only fellow calico waver was a young bloke who was only there for an extended photoshoot with a handful of other instagram influencers and didn't train. I guess by a process of elimination that makes me one of the elite
No pazza , no BJ, consolation was meeting up with Rusty and Gibbo again after all these years.
Maybe some in the goals will brave the hot afternoon and possible showers and turn up on Wednesday with me... #soniamdisappoint.jpg
Traditionally it's the elite who put in the hard pre-season yards, and there were a few there tonight; unfortunately the only fellow calico waver was a young bloke who was only there for an extended photoshoot with a handful of other instagram influencers and didn't train. I guess by a process of elimination that makes me one of the elite
No pazza , no BJ, consolation was meeting up with Rusty and Gibbo again after all these years.
Maybe some in the goals will brave the hot afternoon and possible showers and turn up on Wednesday with me... #soniamdisappoint.jpg
Well the impartial adjudicator of the scores made a long-threatened return to the Wick tonight, bravely carrying an injury and suffering post-omicron aerobic diminishment, determined to put in a showing in any case.
Traditionally it's the elite who put in the hard pre-season yards, and there were a few there tonight; unfortunately the only fellow calico waver was a young bloke who was only there for an extended photoshoot with a handful of other instagram influencers and didn't train. I guess by a process of elimination that makes me one of the elite
No pazza , no BJ, consolation was meeting up with Rusty and Gibbo again after all these years.
Maybe some in the goals will brave the hot afternoon and possible showers and turn up on Wednesday with me... #soniamdisappoint.jpg
Goal umpires turning up on a Monday is rare, a Monday in February they must be insane
