 | Like all Sporting clubs, there are people who volunteer their time to ensure everything runs smoothly for the club and we are no different. One guy who has done this for the Geelong Umpires is Kevin McMaster. |
Kevin has been involved with us since 1961 and has performed most roles throughout his career. Currently Kevin is our chief statistician, handy man, looks after the drinks at training plus everything else we throw at him, but his most challenging role is appointments coordinator. During the peak of the season and over 370 umpires to look after, Kevin’s role is to make any late changes due to sickness or unavailability which usually takes place on either a Friday night or Saturday morning. This role is one of the toughest by far as most weeks we are already stretched to our limits for numbers but Kmac will always come through with the goods to ensure someone gets to the game to umpire without anyone in the football public knowing the wiser. Next weeks GFL Grand Final will be Kevin’s last game in this role since taking it up in 2004. I know every umpire and the parents of our young umpires have been in contact with Kevin at some point and can all say he is one of the greatest guys you could ever come across. Kevin can now start to enjoy his weekends and spend time with his wife Dawn and look after his grand kids during the football season.
Congratulations also to all umpires appointed to this weekends BFL grand finals and GFL preliminary finals games at Simmonds Stadium.
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 BFL Grand Final Umpire Paul McElhinney. Paul has performed consistently on the big stage at this time of the year in the past and will continue his great form from this season in to today’s block buster between Geelong Amateurs and Torquay in the senior clash.
Congratulations also to all umpires appointed to this weekends BFL grand finals and GFL preliminary finals games at Simmonds Stadium.
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 BFL Grand Final Umpire Paul McElhinney. Paul has performed consistently on the big stage at this time of the year in the past and will continue his great form from this season in to today’s block buster between Geelong Amateurs and Torquay in the senior clash.
 Field Umpire Paul McElhinney will be running around in the BFL Grand Final this weekend. | Name: Paul McElhinney Age: 38 Discipline: Field What year did you start umpiring? 1995 Total number of games: 485 What are your Umpiring Career Highlights? GFL Senior Grand Final 2012. Australian Country Championships 2012 in Wagga Wagga. Most outstanding Field Umpire 2012. Field umpire of the year VCFL 2012. Vic Country Championships 2008 group A, 2013 1 V 2. How did you get into umpiring? I came across umpiring reading a story about it in the Addy. What is the best part about umpiring? being involved in the greatest game in the world! What would be your advice to anyone thinking about getting in to umpiring? Just have a go. Do you have any pre game superstitions? No What would be the funniest moment you have experienced since you started umpiring? Umpiring at Bannockburn and being told I'll be in the bush nest week. |
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.
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.
