The West Australian National Football League Umpires Association celebrated its 60th anniversary with a fantastic function at the Novotel.
More than 220 people, including 51 WAFL Grand Final umpires, four AFL grand finalists and 18 WANFLUA Hall of Famers joined current and former umpires, trainers, coaches and partners.
The highlight of the evening was the much anticipated announcement of the WANFLUA Team of the Decade.
The umpires selected were:
Field umpires:
Brett Rosebury - 4 AFL Grand Finals and more than 200 AFL games (pictured)
Dean Margetts - Almost 180 AFL games and two AFL finals
Craig Hendrie - Former AFL and the field umpiring games record holder
Emergency - Luke Farmer - 83 AFL games and 3 WAFL Grand Finals
Boundary umpires:
Nathan Doig - 2011 AFL Grand Final
Jamie Giles - More than 200 AFL games and 12 finals
Greg Smith - Former AFL and the boundary umpiring and overall games record holder
George Pampacos - 125 AFL games and two finals
Goal umpires:
Andrew Curtis - 2004 AFL Grand Finalist
Cos Martino - 2002 AFL Grand Finalist
Third scorer - David Shawcross - More than 100 AFL games and the goal umpiring games record holder.
WANFLUA President Beau Wardman said that out of the 30 nominees for the team of the decade, 27 attended on the evening.
“We were also thrilled to have AFL Umpiring Manager Jeff Gieschen, South Perth MP John McGrath, AFLUA CEO Peter Howe and WAFL Football Director Grant Dorrington in attendance,” Mr Wardman said.
Goal umpire Mike Spear won the "Pick the team of the Decade" competition after being the only person from 93 entries to correctly select all 11 umpires in order.
A tribute was also paid to Grant Vernon for his induction into the WA Football Hall of Fame earlier this year.
