Adam Saad and Kane Lambert were not the only Peter Jackson VFL recruits to debut in the AFL NAB Challenge on the weekend.
2014 VFL Legendairy Grand Final field umpires Jack Edwards, Nick Brown and Brent Wallace each were appointed to their first official AFL game after being added to the 2015 AFL Field Umpires Panel.
After impressing AFL umpire scouts throughout the season and finals in 2014, they were shortlisted to attend the inaugural AFL Umpire Combine last October with three other umpires from around Australia.
Following the Combine all three VFL field umpires were added to the 2015 AFL panel along with South Australian Curtis Deboy.
AFL Victoria State League Umpiring Head Coach Cameron Nash said the hard work is paying off for these umpires with an early opportunity to officiate an AFL game.
“It is great to see the three guys umpire in the first couple of weeks of the NAB Challenge.
“It would also have been a relief to get that first game under their belts and give them the confidence of knowing they belong at the top level,” Nash said.
“From all reports they have had a tough preseason so it would have been good for them to put all of that hard work into practice in these matches.”
For a number of years the VFL competition has been a breeding ground for AFL umpires, with 27 umpires recruited from the competition since 2011 - 10 field, 13 boundary and 4 goal.
“It is was great result for the VFL competition and for the umpiring program we ran last year at AFL Victoria that three of the four spots available on the 2015 AFL Field Umpires Panel went to VFL umpires.
“All three umpires had very consistent seasons which continued into the finals series and ultimately saw them appointed to the VFL Grand Final.”
All three umpires have progressed to the AFL from different backgrounds.
Originally from the Northern Football League, Jack Edwards officiated his 50th game in 2014, umpired the State game and was announced the VFL Field Umpire of the Year. He umpired the Western Bulldogs versus Richmond NAB Challenge clash on Saturday at VU Whitten Oval.
Nick Brown also umpired the State game in 2014, returning to Victoria after two years in the WAFL. He is originally from the VAFA and umpired the Adelaide versus North Melbourne match in Port Lincoln on Sunday.
Brent Wallace progressed through the AFL player to umpire program* after playing football with the Northern Knights and Box Hill Hawks. He commenced his umpiring in the VAFA and 2014 was only his second season at the VFL and umpired the Adelaide versus North Melbourne match in Port Lincoln on Sunday.
* Keep an eye on the website later this week for the announcement of a VFL player to umpire program in 2015
Last Modified on 04/03/2015 14:41
