Three young GFUL umpires are amongst the first group of VCFL umpires to have ever been appointed to officiate at an AFL U/18 National Championships.    Boundary Umpires Tinashe Nyatsanga and David Cooling, along with Goal Umpire Matthew Robertson, have been selected from VCFL umpiring Groups throughout Victoria, based on previous performances and their undoubted ability, to officiate at this years National U/18 Championships to be held in July at Princes Park and Skilled Stadium.    Umpire appointments for these games in the past, have previously been filled by VFL Field, Boundary and Goal umpires, however, the VCFL have negotiated a change which now allows country association Boundary and Goal umpires, the opportunity to participate at a much higher level provided by these Championships.    Field Umpires will continue to be provided by the VFL. 
Congratulations to Tinashe, David and Matthew, well done and well deserved.

The Geelong Football Umpires League (GFUL) is currently in the grip of Umpire Exchange Fever with requests for umpire exchanges coming from all angles and all areas.

On Saturday 16th June 2007, an exchange between the Western Region Football League Umpires Association and the GFUL took place.   Jarrad Walker, Troy McPherson and Tim Maloney from the WRFL Umpires joined local GFUL umpiresRod McKenzie, David West and Gwenda Bell, in the Bellarine Football League “Battle of the Bridge” between Ocean Grove and Barwon Heads, who are bitter rivals and where a good vigorous contest is always guaranteed.   The two clubs were once one club, but seperated in 1960 and have had a fierce rivalry ever since no matter what their positions are on the ladder.   The two towns are seperated by the bridge which crosses the Barwon River, the very bridge featured in the ABC production, Sea Change.    Geelong Umpires Tony Parsons, Jake Robertson and Luke McLean ventured up the highway to the western suburbs and  experience a different environment than they would normally be used to, to share the umpiring duties with WRFL umpires at the Yarravilee Seddon Eagles v Albion clash at the old VFL ground at Yarraville where VFA legend Fred Cook, and many other VFL greats thrilled the crowds in the VFA heydays.

Umpires from Warrnambool and Yarra Ranges assisted Geelong Umpires in the recent Interleague clashes between the Geelong Football League and the Hampden Football League and the Bellarine and Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League.    Hospitaility was provided by the GFUL and both Yarra Ranges and Warrnambool umpires enjoyed friendly social interaction with each other throughout the day.    Relationships were so cordial that another umpire exchange, this time between Warrnambool and Geelong, was arranged for July 21st when South Warrnambool play Koroit.

In addition to the above umpire exchanges, the GFUL have also been offered an exchange with the Maryborough/Castlemaine Umpires Association on 30th June 2007 which we have accepted and look forward to very much. 

The GFUL are also currently negotiating an exchange with the Wide Bay Umpires Association in Hervey Bay, Queensland, where GFUL umpires and coaching staff would travel to Queensland to provide skills coaching and training for the local umpiring group who have little in the way of coaching expertise to help them improve.   The visit would also include a visit to a couple of schools in a bid to raise the profile of AFL Football Umpiring and hopefully encourage recruiting.

Umpire Exchanges are a great way to spread the umpiring message and provide opportunities for umpires to experience differing environments and standards of football, in addition to meeting new umpires from regions they would not otherwise be given the opportunity to meet.
 

Congratulations to young GFUL Boundary Umpire, Joshua Neville, who has been selected as a participant in the VCFL's V/Line Umpire Leadership Program for 2007 to be conducted in Melbourne throughout the July school holiday period.  The program will include the following activities:
Training with AFL Umpires,
Attending the Eseendon and Collingwood Football Clubs,
Undertaking a V/Line Life Skills training session with Trent Hotton,
Meeting with Head of AFL Umpiring, Jeff Gieschen, and
Umpiring an NAB AFL Auskick Grid Game at the MCG
This years program will focus heavily on developing leadership qualities and will provide Joshua with the experience of a lifetime 

Three of the GFUL's V/Line Umpire Academy participants in Boundary Umpires Tinashe Nyatsanga and David Cooling and Goal Umpire Matthew Robertson, have been rewarded for their excellent performances at the V/Line Cup in April with appointments to the Annual VCFL East v West U/18 Challenge game on 1st July at West Oval in Geelong.   Congratulations to Tinashe, David and Matthew on their appointments.

The U/18 Challenge shoewcases the very best U/18 talent from across country Victoria and always provides a very high quality and standard of football.  This year the sides will be coached by Peter Knights (East) and Shane Garner (West).