History was created last night with the announcement of the 2014 AFL Victoria field umpiring panel.
In a first for the Peter Jackson VFL, female field umpire Lucinda Lopes was added to the VFL Field Umpires Development Squad - the first female field umpire since VAFA umpire Sharon Algers 24 years ago to achieve this.
The Northern Football League umpire has spent the past four years as part of AFL Victoria’s Female Umpire Academy under the guidance of AFL field umpire Marty Ellis, with the Academy designed to support and develop talented female field umpires.
Lopes’ achievements in the Academy were highlighted with her back to back awarding of the Joanne Cox Medal – an award based on Academy members’ commitment to excellence, dedication to umpiring, helping others, being supportive, encouraging and always a team player.
She was one of three field umpires from the Academy – the others being Libby Toovey (SFL) and Amy McQuade (EDFL) – who were nominated to trial for the 2014 VFL Field Umpire Development Squad.
AFL Victoria Head Coach of Umpiring Cameron Nash said it was great reward for effort for Lopes and the other 11 new umpires that were added to the development squad, as well as the seven umpires who were elevated to the senior list this year.
“It is great reward for Lucinda’s dedication and application to her umpiring.
“During the trial process she met all the fitness benchmarks, performed well in the practice matches and her attitude is first class. In the end she picked herself,” Nash said.
“It should be also acknowledged the great work done by Kevin Smith at the NFL, plus Neville Nash and Marty Ellis at the AFL Victoria Female Umpiring Academy who have greatly assisted in Lucinda’s development.”
The 12 new umpires added to the development squad represent nine different community leagues.
“It is extremely exciting for umpiring in the AFL Victoria competitions that we have been able to add seven young up and coming umpires to the senior squad and also 12 new umpires from the community groups to the development squad.
“This holds us in good stead for the coming years to ensure Victoria continues to produce high quality umpires that will hopefully go on to AFL level at some stage,” Nash said.
“We would like to thank the local leagues and their umpire associations for nominating these umpires, and helping them progress to this point.”
With the AFL also finalising its umpiring panel for 2014, over 60% of the final field umpire list come from Victorian leagues and associations.
One of these is 2013 Peter Jackson VFL Grand Final umpire Robert O'Gorman, who has been elevated to the AFL Elite Panel of Field Umpires, and will be joined by fellow promoted Grand Final umpires Michael Craig (goal), Damien Cusack and Josh Mather (boundary) in the AFL.
“Rob only did VFL senior finals for the first time last year, including the Grand Final, so that shows the quality of Rob as a person and as an umpire that he has been able to make the AFL list in his first trial,” Nash said.
The AFL Victoria boundary and goal umpiring panels for 2014 will be finalised soon.
See below the full list of 2014 field umpires.
Last Modified on 16/03/2014 14:07