For some of the players running around today it may be the highlight of their career to play finals and hopefully win a premiership. It is a prestigious appointment to be selected for a final or grand final as an umpire as it is a reward for not only the hard work they put in on match day, training and recovery sessions throughout the year but shows great faith the coaching panel have in the umpires taking part on the big day.
With the first of 3 senior grand final being played this weekend I wish on behalf of all of the Board of Management, Coaches and the Geelong Umpires membership all the best and congratulations to all of the umpires selected for today’s games.
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GDFL Grand Final Umpires |

During the Finals series I will be highlighting some of our umpires who have either just got in to the game or been long serving members. This week’s profile umpire is on first year member Reece Noble. The experience, knowledge and positive personality that Reece has brought to the Geelong Umpires this year has been fantastic. He will be a leader for the rest of our field umpires in the years to come.
Name: Reece Noble
Age: 28
Discipline: Field
What year did you start umpiring? 2004 but first year with the Geelong Umpires
Total number of games: 300+
What are your Umpiring Career Highlights? I've umpired 4 senior RDFL grand finals and spent a year at the VFL.
How did you get into umpiring? Like a lot of people my start in umpiring was financially driven. The local league sent out a letter to all registered under 18 players asking if anyone was interested in umpiring some junior football. I would play on a Saturday and umpire 2 junior games on a Sunday, it beat stacking shelves at IGA.
What is the best part about umpiring? I love my football and unfortunately was never a great player, so the ability to be involved in the game on field is definitely the best part of umpiring. The opportunity to constantly push and improve myself, staying fit and the banter on the track are all draw cards too.
What would be your advice to anyone thinking about getting in to umpiring? Jump in! The umpires group is just like another footy club.
Do you have any pre game superstitions? Not pre game, but I only ever wear one sweatband
What would be the funniest moment you have experienced since you started umpiring? Back when we started wearing orange uniforms I was umpiring a game at Redlands in Queensland and a bloke from the bar area stood up and yell out "nice call you orange.....(he was clearly lost for a noun here)..... Juice" I was close to the boundary at that stage so I turned around and informed him he could do a hell of a lot better than that to which the 200 or so other people around him broke into hysterical laughter
In umpiring when an interesting or unique situation comes up in a game we call it a “Blue Mooner”. Each week in this article I will ask a “Blue Mooner” question for you to answer. To find out the answer all you need to do is go to the Geelong Umpires website, www.gful.com.au, and look at “What’s your Decision” under the Coaching Information Tab.
This week’s question is?
In an exciting finals game at Drysdale, the siren goes to end the game however the umpire in control fails to hear the siren due to the large crowd and awards a mark straight in front to the full forward. The mid zone umpire runs down to inform the end zone umpire that he heard the siren before the completion of the mark. What happens next? What is your Decision?
Remember to head to the website or check out next week’s article for the answer.
Last Week’s Question was:
In an exciting finals game at West Oval, a Colac forward kicks a goal from the pocket to level the scores late in the last quarter. After the ball goes through for a goal the field umpire notices the boundary umpire blowing his whistle for an out of bounds decision. What happens next? What is your Decision?
Answer is annul the score and throw the ball in where it went out of bounds.
If you are interested in umpiring contact the Geelong Umpires on 03 5229 8599 or get down to the umpires’ rooms at Kardinia Park on a Monday or Wednesday from 4.30 pm onwards. Further information can be found on our brand new Geelong Umpires website. www.gful.com.au .
Remember to say something nice to the Umpires this weekend as they are giving it their all!
The Geelong Umpires would like to thank the following sponsors for their support in 2015.
Major:Metricon & Specsavers.
Gold:Buckley’s Entertainment Centre, Ford Credit Coop Society and Geelong Galvanizing.
Silver:Crossfit Geelong, Fagg’s Mitre 10, Kardinia Café, Rinnai, SC Technology, Sargeants Geelong and Technika.
Bronze:Barry Plant, Promote-It, and Routleys.
Name: Reece Noble
Age: 28
Discipline: Field
What year did you start umpiring? 2004 but first year with the Geelong Umpires
Total number of games: 300+
What are your Umpiring Career Highlights? I've umpired 4 senior RDFL grand finals and spent a year at the VFL.
How did you get into umpiring? Like a lot of people my start in umpiring was financially driven. The local league sent out a letter to all registered under 18 players asking if anyone was interested in umpiring some junior football. I would play on a Saturday and umpire 2 junior games on a Sunday, it beat stacking shelves at IGA.
What is the best part about umpiring? I love my football and unfortunately was never a great player, so the ability to be involved in the game on field is definitely the best part of umpiring. The opportunity to constantly push and improve myself, staying fit and the banter on the track are all draw cards too.
What would be your advice to anyone thinking about getting in to umpiring? Jump in! The umpires group is just like another footy club.
Do you have any pre game superstitions? Not pre game, but I only ever wear one sweatband
What would be the funniest moment you have experienced since you started umpiring? Back when we started wearing orange uniforms I was umpiring a game at Redlands in Queensland and a bloke from the bar area stood up and yell out "nice call you orange.....(he was clearly lost for a noun here)..... Juice" I was close to the boundary at that stage so I turned around and informed him he could do a hell of a lot better than that to which the 200 or so other people around him broke into hysterical laughter
In umpiring when an interesting or unique situation comes up in a game we call it a “Blue Mooner”. Each week in this article I will ask a “Blue Mooner” question for you to answer. To find out the answer all you need to do is go to the Geelong Umpires website, www.gful.com.au, and look at “What’s your Decision” under the Coaching Information Tab.
This week’s question is?
In an exciting finals game at Drysdale, the siren goes to end the game however the umpire in control fails to hear the siren due to the large crowd and awards a mark straight in front to the full forward. The mid zone umpire runs down to inform the end zone umpire that he heard the siren before the completion of the mark. What happens next? What is your Decision?
Remember to head to the website or check out next week’s article for the answer.
Last Week’s Question was:
In an exciting finals game at West Oval, a Colac forward kicks a goal from the pocket to level the scores late in the last quarter. After the ball goes through for a goal the field umpire notices the boundary umpire blowing his whistle for an out of bounds decision. What happens next? What is your Decision?
Answer is annul the score and throw the ball in where it went out of bounds.
If you are interested in umpiring contact the Geelong Umpires on 03 5229 8599 or get down to the umpires’ rooms at Kardinia Park on a Monday or Wednesday from 4.30 pm onwards. Further information can be found on our brand new Geelong Umpires website. www.gful.com.au .
Remember to say something nice to the Umpires this weekend as they are giving it their all!
The Geelong Umpires would like to thank the following sponsors for their support in 2015.
Major:Metricon & Specsavers.
Gold:Buckley’s Entertainment Centre, Ford Credit Coop Society and Geelong Galvanizing.
Silver:Crossfit Geelong, Fagg’s Mitre 10, Kardinia Café, Rinnai, SC Technology, Sargeants Geelong and Technika.
Bronze:Barry Plant, Promote-It, and Routleys.