Umpires’ Corner: Week 1

Andrew Hartnett

Footy’s back for another year! With the World Cup on, this pre-season seems to have gone on forever, but finally it’s time to get stuck into the real stuff.

As with every season, there is excitement around seeing who’s returning, how many new faces we have (30 Field, 25 Boundary, 15 Goal, but there’s always room for more), and of course who we’ve lost.

As an umpiring group we are extremely proud of our members who successfully move to elite competitions. This year has been no exception, with 5 members surviving the VFL trial process, and moving towards their goals of running out at the highest level.

Congratulations go to

Kit Harvey (Development Field)

Ryan Robertson (Development Field)

Andre Gianfagna (Development Field)

Mitchel Jones (Development Boundary)

Josh Prince (Development Goal)

These umpires join their fellow VAFAUA alum, Joe Hartwig, Ben Nicholson, Matt Pryor, Charlie Blanch, Andrew Heffernan, Dan Lawlor, Jarryd Barry, Ryan O’Shea, Matt Dervan and Chris Doyle on the 2015 VFL list.

Our representation at AFL level has also increased this year with Nick Brown, James Scully and Steve Piperno being promoted to the AFL list, as well as Brent Wallace who has graduated to the big time via the AFL Player to Umpire Pathway. These results continue to highlight the strength of the VAFAUAs development programs in helping all umpires progress to the level of football that they aspire to officiate in.

On a sad note, we have lost a few legends of the umpiring community to retirement this year, and over the coming weeks well be honouring them. Today we look in detail at the career of Steve “Macca” McCarthy who many would know not only from his on field exploits but also from his work on this column.

Macca commenced his umpiring career in 1978, as part of the VFL reserve grade panel. Running 1 umpire in the Federal, Diamond Valley, Riddell and Hawthorn District Junior leagues and helping out in the VAFA when they were short of numbers and in 1980 Macca umpired in the VFL Under 19 Competition.

From 1981-1983 Macca was on the Senior VFL list, umpiring in country Victoria, NSW and South Australia.

A pre-season injury saw Macca move to the VAFA in 1984 with the view to returning to the VFL the following year. He never left.

Steve’s ability was quickly recognised and he was promoted to A Section (now Premier) in his second season and that’s where he stayed for the next 22 years. He stepped down from the A Section panel in 2007 to take on the role of coaching the Development Squad, assisting inexperienced umpires and even the odd ex-player to push for promotion to the Senior Squad (Premier & Premier B) and beyond.

Macca’s umpiring achievements and service to the VAFA are immense, with 1 A Section, 2 B Section, 5 C Section and more than 16 lower section Grand Finals to his name. On top of that, 2 Representative games, 2004 VAFA Umpire of the Year, VAFA Certificate of Merit and VAFAUA Life Member.

Macca was also prolific in the VAFA media, writing Umpires Corner for more than 20 years, outlasting many co-scribes, and co-hosting the VAFA Show on Southern FM with Tom Brain.

Macca, from all at the VAFAUA thank you for your years of service to us and the game and enjoy your well-earned rest.

Milestones

Congratulations to Dave Hindle brings up 450 games this week.

Finally, we’re looking for a regular scribe to take on writing this column for the season. Please see either Greg Rolfe or Andrew Hartnett if interested.