Sydney-based umpires, Frank Kalayzich (pictured top-left) and Michael Saunders have both been nominated in the 2012 NSW Sports Federation Awards.
The Federation received 128 nominations, ranging from Olympians to local community champions, for the 2012 NSW Sports Federation Awards, which celebrate outstanding achievements of NSW athletes, coaches, officials and organisations.
Kalayzich has been nominated for Masters Athlete of the Year after notching 450 Senior Premier Division Games as an umpire in the AFL Sydney Competition.
Kalayzich began umpiring in 1978 in the Manly-Warringah Junior Football competition and has umpired almost every year since.
Saunders, an AFL boundary umpire has been nominated for Official of the Year.
A project manager from Randwick, he has been umpiring in the AFL since 2009 and has officiated 80 games including the 2012 semi-final between the Adelaide Crows and the Fremantle Dockers.
The Melbourne-born 26-year-old started umpiring for the Victorian Amateur Football Association at just 18 before moving to Sydney and officiating in the Sydney AFL, NEAFL and now the AFL.
The five finalists from each category will be announced early next week before the awards ceremony on December 1 at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel.
In other umpiring news, a number of local Sydney umpires were recognised at the recent AFL NSW/ACT Umpire Development Awards.
Over 160 umpires, coaches, volunteers and parents filled a room at ANZ Stadium recently to recognise umpiring achievements across all levels in NSW and the ACT.
Umpires appointed to Grand Finals, Golden Whistle Award winners, mentors, coaches and volunteers were all celebrated as the 2012 AFL season comes to a close.
Participants in the new National Green Shirt Program were also recognised as they started their AFL umpiring careers.
The Green Shirt program is designed for new umpires to help them learn and develop their skills and confidence through coaching and on field mentoring.
The audience enjoyed interviews with some of the umpires present and were treated to speeches from special guests including Nathan Elsworthy and Dean Garroway.
Elsworthy, from the NSW Central Coast, trialled for the AFL in 2012 and was successful in being selected to the AFL Rookie Field umpire list.
During the season he was the emergency field umpire for 11 AFL matches and participated in coaching and development to further develop his fitness, skills and knowledge required to umpire in the AFL.
Garroway, just 19, is a promising young field umpire. After participating in the junior umpiring talent pathway he has progressed to AFL Sydney Premier Division football and this season umpired the AFL Sydney Premier Division Grand Final between UNSW/ES and Balmain.
During the year he was selected to umpire at the Australian Country Championships in Wagga Wagga and was named Umpire of the Carnival.
Both Elsworthy and Garroway left junior umpires in the room excited about the opportunities available to them through umpiring.
Last Modified on 09/11/2012 16:08
