SEAN QUINN | TOOWOOMBA TELEGRAPH | 15 JUNE 2013
Apparently when the body is too old, but the mind is still fresh, the best way to go for an experienced AFL player is to take the important role of an umpire.
This is exactly what Darren Murphy, the new regional umpiring manager, decided to do. And he's never looked back.
"I'm from Victoria originally and I've played all around Australia with the army for a few years," Murphy said.
"The body is too old to play now; it doesn't do what I want it to do and it takes more than just a sauna to get over it. So I thought I would start umpiring last year."
Being regional umpiring manager means Murphy is responsible for the weekly appointments of umpires to games, training umpires and improving the standard of umpiring for the league.
"It's a good job, but as an ex-player myself, other players will tell you we don't get it right all the time," he said.
There is a shortage of umpires throughout Australia, Murphy said figures show every week around 20,000 umpires are needed while there are only 10,000 available.
Even so, he still manages to recruit enough umpires every week for AFL matches in the Darling Downs, although sometimes only just barely do it.
Murphy said although tension could be high on the field, players in the Darling Downs competitions are generally well behaved with only two reports so far in the season.
"The players are really good; all the clubs are well coached where there's not a lot of backchat going on and the players know we aren't going to change our minds," Murphy said.
"Spectators on the other hand can run free with what they say, but we are working with clubs and ground marshals to try and stamp that out."
Last Modified on 02/07/2013 10:49
