NO it’s not the terminator, it’s an Aussie Rules umpire and the glasses he’s wearing could be the future for not just umpiring but coaching in the AFL.

This high-tech eyewear was trialled at the Landmark Australian Country Football Carnival in Canberra last week - and according to State Umpiring Manager for AFL NSW, Graham Glassford, they are definitely the future for training umpires.

“These glasses are sensational – they really give a bird’s eye view of what the umpire is focusing on,” said Mr Glassford.

“Of course there are some limitations because you don’t get peripheral vision that a person picks up but as a coaching tool to individuals or a group of umpires it has awesome potential,” said Mr Glassford.

AFL umpire Dean Margetts is going back to his tight, white-short wearing days to umpire an under 17s game during the AFL split-round next weekend.

“I remember my shorts were a lot tighter and a lot whiter back then,” he said of his early umpiring days in WA.

Margetts began his career playing WA junior football then jumped into umpiring with the Demons District Football Umpires Association (DDFUA).

FIELD umpire Craig Hendrie will join the most elite group in umpiring when he officiates in his 300^th league game in Round 12 of the WAFL.

Hendrie, who made his debut in 1995, will join field umpires Mike Ball, Grant Vernon and Ray Montgomery, boundary umpire Greg Smith and goal umpires Paul Smith and David Shawcross as the only people to achieve the feat.

A four time WAFL grand final umpire, three time umpire of the year and veteran of 69 AFL matches, a modest Hendrie said the achievement spoke more about longevity than anything else.

“It means I’m old,” the 35-year-old joked.

FIELD umpire Rhett Hollick (left), boundary umpire Brad Hunt (middle) and goal umpire Jonathan Laycock (bottom) were all recognised as winners of pre-season medals during the umpires’ annual Panel Night held last month.

Hollick won the Ross Capes Medal as the best field umpire of the summer after an impressive pre-season that saw him run personal best times and umpire to a wonderful standard throughout practice games.

With 27 league games under his belt before the year, Hollick has had to overcome injuries in the past, but now appears set to enjoy a strong 2010.

WAFC Umpiring has recognised the outstanding contribution of four umpires by naming the WAFL Umpire Talent Academy and three Junior District Talent Squads in their honour.

Mike Ball (pictured left), Dean Margetts, Craig Hendrie and Geoff Hayes were all recently announced at Ernest Johnson Reserve, the home of umpiring in WA, to receive the honour this season. WAFC Umpiring Junior Manager, Paul Pitchers sincerely acknowledged the professional efforts of the selection committee in the nomination and final selection process.

Ball’s name is now attached to the WAFL Talent Academy, while Hendrie, Margetts and Hayes have the North, South and Peel District Talent Squads named in their honour after being nominated and selected by their peers.

Ball, who umpired 301 games including 45 AFL matches, said it was a humbling experience, but also a thrill to be recognised by his fellow umpires.

“It is nice to be rewarded and something I’ll definitely cherish,” Ball said. “The Talent Academy has been a really positive step for umpiring so it’s great to be associated with. It helps with the overall professionalism and gets the most out of umpires by adding to their skills on and off the field.”

“Identifying talent and providing that pathway is very important.”

Ball also congratulated Hendrie, Margetts and Hayes, saying all three were highly deserving of having Talent Squads bearing their names.

“These guys have been outstanding umpires – two of them at AFL level and Geoff, who has been involved at Peel for so many years. It is great to recognise someone from the area.”

Margetts, who has umpired 122 AFL games, also congratulated his colleagues on receiving the honour and described it as: “another positive step forward for umpiring in WA.”

“It was a bit of a surprise for me but a great thrill to think the Talent Squad could be named after someone still active. I think that still being involved makes it even more tangible for the younger guys to relate and allows me to pass on advice that is still very relevant,” Margetts said.

“Developing these Talent Squads is critical for the future of umpiring. There certainly wasn’t anything like this around when I started out so it’s good to see more focus being placed on helping young umpires develop.

“It not only helps them on the field, but helps build overall life skills and make them better people,” he said.

HONOUR ROLL

Mike Ball - WAFL Talent Academy

WAFL Games - 301 (45 AFL)

Grand Finals: 4 (83, 84, 86, 89)

AFL Finals: 1

Committee: 8 years, with 2 years as President

Other: WAFL Field Umpire Coach (2003-04)

AFL MDC (2003-04)

WAAFL Umpires Coach (1997-2000)

WAFC Umpire Development Manager (2003-2006)

WANFLUA Hall of Fame 1996

WANFL UA Life Member 1990

Dean Margetts - Junior District Talent Squad - South

WAFL Games - 224 (122 AFL)

Grand Finals: 2 (00,08)

Other: AFL Pre Season GF 2008

WANFLUA Life Member 2008

Craig Hendrie – Junior District Talent Squad - North

WAFL Games - 286 (69 AFL)

Grand Finals: 4 (01,02,03,09)

Committee: 2 years

WANFLUA Life Member 2005

Geoff Hayes – Junior District Talent Squad - Peel

246 Peel FL League Games

President PFUA 6 years

Peel Development squad coach for 5 years

Coordinated Umpire training programs at Mandurah Senior College