BIG RESPONSIBILITY: Theresa Tilyard is honoured to be the number one goal umpire in the country AFL Queensland
By Joe Flynn WEEKS ago she was the first woman to ever umpire a representative match in the Wide Bay, now Theresa Tilyard faces the possibility of standing alongside the nation's top officials. Her selection for the AFL Queensland Country Stockmen and AFL Cairns clash next week marked a phenomenal rise through the ranks for Tilyard, who will line up as the number one goal umpire in the country AFL Queensland (AFLQ), despite having only slightly more than three years of experience on the sidelines. "I feel really excited and honoured about being chosen," Tilyard said. "I never really thought that it could happen to be doing this, at this level. "I've come so far in such a short time, I've had such a great experience." AFLQ umpire co-ordinator for representative football Chris Guice said professionalism and determination earned Tilyard her spot in Townsville. "Her presentation, the way that she approaches umpiring and, what really impressed me about Theresa, is that she really wanted to improve and she is prepared to do the work required," Guice said. AFLQ are arguing for heavier representation in the upcoming Australian Country Football Championships as of now, it will have one field umpire waving the flag for the state. If the Queensland body is successful in its push, a boundary umpire and a goal umpire from the state could be selected in the national tournament. After watching her performance at the Country Queensland selection game earlier this month, Guice said there was no end to what Tilyard could achieve. "She's really dedicated and very professional in her approach to umpiring," Guice said. "If you have those qualities, they can get you anywhere." Tilyard's rapid rise represents a barrage of women breaking down the old "boys club" that was AFL. In Brisbane, the woman-to-man ratio in AFL umpiring is around 50-50, Guice said.