The best 11 umpires from the past 10 years will be announced by the WANFLUA at a major function at the Novotel on June 16.
The WANFLUA is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and, just as it did in 2002, will announce the team of the decade.
Five teams of the decade were announced at the 50 year celebrations followed by a team of the half century. That team comprised field umpires Ross Capes, Ray Montgomery, Len Gardner and emergency Grant Vernon, boundary umpires John Devine, Ron Hall and Dan Gooch along with goal umpires Bill Carter, Merv Rose and third scorer Paul Smith.
The WANFLUA announced the nominations for the team of the decade from 2002-2011 earlier this year. The 10 best field, boundary and goal umpires were chosen and handed to a selection committee to pick the best of the best.
The top 10 field umpires are Dean Margetts, Jeff Dalgleish, Stuart Parry, Greg Bandy, Todd Keating, Brett Rosebury, Gavin Statham, Craig Hendrie, Mark Fussell and Luke Farmer.
The boundary nominations are Haden Martin, Richard Heptinstall, Greg Smith (pictured), Jamie Giles, Nathan Doig, Ben Brown, George Pampacos, Alan Zanich, Jace Collingridge and Brett Dalgleish.
The goal umpire nominations are Cos Martino, Wayne Hendrie, David Shawcross, Brett Rogers, Dale Edwick, Andrew Curtis, Mike Spear, John Marrapodi, Matt Laycock and Adam Peacock.
The WANFLUA will name three field umpires and one emergency, four boundary umpires, two goal umpires and a third scorer.
The selection committee comprised some of umpiring’s biggest names. Former AFL field umpires Greg Scroop, Grant Vernon and Trevor Garrett, former AFL boundary umpires Peter Frusher and Stewart Tempest along with former AFL boundary umpiring coach Sean Fairfoul. Goal umpiring judges were WAFL goal umpires’ coach Colin Shawcross, former AFL goal umpire Ron Poole and former WAFL umpire and AFL interchange steward Gil Bishop.
The WANFLUA is encouraging all former members to attend the 60 year function to celebrate the association’s rich history.
AFL Umpiring Director Jeff Gieschen will be a special guest and ABC commentator Clint Wheeldon will be the MC.
