Todd McElroy, Danny Bertola and Ash Weckert were the central umpires for the 2024 EDFA League Grand final on Saturday. The match was well umpired by the trio, complemented by both Esperance and Gibson playing the match in great spirit. Photo: Greg Symes
ASHLEY WECKERT
The EDFA Umpires Association has continued to strengthen the important role that umpires play in managing games of Australian Rules in the Esperance region in season 2024. With 15 warriors taking to the field across the year, many umpires have had a heavy workload week in week out, regularly doing two, if not three games, across a Saturday. 12 umpires officiated in League matches this year, building the combined capacity of the group umpiring at the highest level within our Association. We welcomed new umpire James McCooey to the group mid-season, as well as Chris Oversby and Nick Chapman getting back into the ‘green’ during weeks when our numbers were low.
With many of the team working rosters or travelling long distances to Esperance, we have adapted our training methods to include online education. We pride ourselves on staying up to date with the current AFL rules and interpretations. Joining online coaching sessions with WAFL umpires and coaches and accessing coaching videos from the WA Football Commission, has created many opportunities for discussion and improvement when the umpires come together.
Many umpires have shown a real commitment to be both available, and more importantly, improve their umpiring skillset. As a combined group we will umpire a total 264 games by the end of the season, not including any other junior games some do. It was no easy decision, but after umpiring 28 games, including 16 in League, we congratulate Danny Bertola on being judged umpire of the year for the 2024 season. Thank you again to OD Transport for the sponsorship of this award.
We congratulate Curtis Mayfield on his involvement in both the Great Southern Colts Carnival in Kulin and the Nutrient Ag Solutions Colts and Senior Carnivals in Perth, during the year. This is a big commitment for a young umpire and a great opportunity to gain experience and improve the craft of field, boundary, and goal umpiring.
In season 2025, we are looking to add, club aligned, boundary umpires to the EDFAUA team. This is an exciting opportunity to add some youth to the team and improve the match day officiating of our Senior grades. We are seeking interested youth currently in Years 9, 10, and 11 and look forward to supporting these boys and girls in this important umpiring role. And of course, we are always seeking new talent to join the field umpiring team. In what has to be the best vantage point to watch a game, you more importantly stay/become involved in the game, give back to the footy community, keep a level of fitness, and to top it off, earn a little cash, as an umpire.
The EDFAUA would sincerely like to thank the EDFA for its support and leadership throughout the season. Stu, Kate and the Directors have done another great job this year and have financially supported the umpires to purchase new uniforms to kit out umpires and to replenish and maintain our equipment. We thank the clubs for working directly with the EDFAUA for umpire payments and match day organisation, along with allowing us to train on Thursday nights on their ovals. Finally, thank you to the players for providing a close and competitive season of football across all the grades.
The grand final day ran like clockwork for the umpires. A massive thanks to Ports FC and the EDFA for the support of the umpires. All games were played in great spirit, with a couple of close games in the Women and League that could have gone either way. The weather conditions made for challenging conditions but surprisingly more goals were scored at the northern end in several games.
Ashley Weckert is the EDFA Umpire Association Co-ordinator.
The submitted article first appeared in the EDFA’s Grand Final Budget.
