It was an historic week for umpiring in the Wimmera, with a current AFL umpire officiating a match in the region for the first time while a former All Australian umpire took local officials through their paces at a training session.

In what AFL Victoria umpire recruitment and retention officer Cam Pickering believes is an Australian first, umpire John Howorth officiated Saturday’s clash between Minyip-Murtoa and Warrack Eagles after umpiring an AFL game between Essendon and North Melbourne on Thursday night.

He said while many high-profile umpires had previously called games in the region, it was the first instance of an umpire taking part in an AFL match and a local game in the same round.

“There were some umpires in the 1970s and ’80s who used to come up by train and umpire in our local leagues, but they were guys who had either been dropped from the VFL at the time or were cadets making their way up the ranks,” he said.

“Some of them went on to become prominent umpires, but at that time they weren’t. They definitely weren’t umpiring at the top level in the same round.”

Howorth’s appearance coincided with the first senior game of rising teenage umpire Phoenix Hopper, who he said impressed him with his attitude.

“At Phoenix’s age I was a boundary umpire – I wasn’t doing senior umpiring at his age, so he’s well ahead of where I was,” he said.

“The thing that impressed me the most was that he’s such a relaxed, composed and calm character. He didn’t let the occasion get the better of him. As an umpire, what he did really well was sit back and let the game come to him. He didn’t assert himself or get involved when he didn’t need to.”

Pickering said a midweek visit from 2023 All Australian umpire Rob Findlay, who ran a training session for Wimmera Mallee Umpires Association members, had also been an outstanding success.

“Rob was tremendous. He was really giving of his time,” Pickering said.

“He came back for a meal afterwards and it was pretty amazing to hear what his experiences were to become All Australian. He inspired everyone to reach for the stars.”

Pickering said he hoped the visits from a pair of top-flight umpires would inspire local members to keep pursuing officiating.

“Whether it be as a sport, as a career, or as life skills for kids developing their confidence and being part of a community and a sporting environment, we want to get it out there as a positive experience,” he said.

– Colin MacGillivray

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