AFL Sunshine Coast Umpires have been outstanding again in 2012 following on from a very successful 2011. There are similar numbers reaching NEAFL level however the regularity has increased this year with boundary umpires Calvin Tink and Brendan Donahoo having consistent appointments at the highest level. Field umpire Nathan Scott in his rookie year at the age of 20 is also being appointed weekly.
Scott has gone further this year than any of the current crop of umpires having been appointed to the Foxtel Cup curtain raiser match before Gold Coast SUNS take on North Melbourne at Metricon Stadium. Nathan will then head off to Melbourne to officiate in the National U18 championships.
Brendan Donahoo will also be flying to Sydney for the National U16 championships in a few weeks time.
Once again the SEQ Development Squad has seen four umpires from the Sunshine Coast included; Nathan Gibson, Adam Randall, Justin Lillecrapp and Lewis Scott. All of these boys officiated at the State U16 championships in April where they all excelled.
“All the Coast kids have exceeded expectations and are regulars to training and they listen and apply what they are taught which you can’t ask for more,” said Development Squad coach Troy Friend.
“In my time as Umpire Development Officer it’s heartening to see the coast represented in the development squad and it has certainly made people take notice of what we can produce from such a small region,” said former Sunshine Coast Umpire Development Officer Rohan Briggs.
Other achievements coming out of the Sunshine Coast have seen Nathan Gibson (Field), Daniel Mahon (Boundary) and Brandon Gunn (Goal) recently travel to Cairns for the State U15 school boys championships.
“The state champs were a good experience to umpire at a higher level where the players were out to play footy,” said Gibson.
“This makes umpiring enjoyable.”
Now that the AFL Sunshine Coast Juniors season is halfway through, all umpires now have their sights set on finals and are really ramping up their training and working hard to do their best for a berth. Like the players it’s the end of the year where it all comes together and makes every week worthwhile.
Pictured are Sunshine Coast Umpires Nathan Gibson, Brandon Gunn and Daniel Mahon at Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns.
Last Modified on 27/07/2012 09:59