Footy doesn’t exist without its fluorescent green servants.
The great game of Australian rules dates back to 1858, and while the code and its regulations have vastly evolved throughout the past century and a half, umpires have been there, right in the cut and thrust to ensure a fair shake is had.
Now it’s time to celebrate their efforts.
Community Umpiring Week runs from May 6 to 12 and the Goulburn Valley Football Umpires Association is busy among the festivities.
AFL Goulburn Murray regional director of umpiring Andrew Moore explained what the week was all about.
“It’s about acknowledging all the officials throughout the region, whether they be officiating umpires or club umpires,” he said.
“(It’s) just acknowledging the work and commitment they have through the game.”
On Thursday night, AFL 100-game umpire Nick Brown will arrive at Kialla Recreation Reserve to tell his story and run the GVFUA whistleblowers through their paces as part of Community Umpiring Week.
It rubber-stamps a burgeoning few months for the organisation following a successful string of come-and-try days earlier in the year.
Even Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell has got in on the act, attending a umpire training session this week to learn more about the intricacies of officiating.
Because, as Moore indicated, GVFUA’s doors are always open.
“We’ve got good numbers this year. We can always have some more — we haven’t fallen short yet — but it’s always good to have a few more under the belt,” he said.
“In particular, (we could use more) goal umpires this year; we’ve had a few retirements but we’re looking for anyone who’s interested in doing some goal umpiring.
“Also field umpiring, not so much in the Shepparton area but in the district areas — out Mansfield way, Echuca — we’re always on the lookout for more.”
Though Moore admits some veterans of the GVFUA have hung up their runners for good, a sturdy nucleus of hardened umpires remains on duty around the region.
The likes of Ross Henderson, Wayne Hamilton, John Paterson and Wayne Geisler, who boast a collective 2000 senior games beneath their belts, continue to lead the way for the younger crop of neon-clad moderators emerging through the ranks.
“You don’t get much more experienced games than those four,” Moore said.
“They’re still all around, still doing games, which is great to help those junior umpires come along and develop them.
“We’ve got really good youth coming through, particularly with our junior field umpire program.
“It’s been really successful in setting us up to be in a really good position going forward.”