West Australian Football

Two new field umpires have recently been added to the WAFL panel. Chris McCann and Jason Edwards have been promoted from the WAFL’s Development Squad to the senior list after consistent starts to the 2008 season in the WA Amateur Football League.

18 year old Chris originally hails from the Claremont District where he commenced umpiring in 2006. “I began umpiring as a means of staying involved in football after I finished playing, and immensely enjoyed it from the moment I started” said McCann, who has already impressed his new WAFL counterparts with his level of fitness.

A first year Communications student at UWA, McCann officiated in the WAAFL B Reserve Grade Grand Final last season, an amazing achievement given it was just his second year of umpiring. He was also rewarded with an under 16’s Grand Final in the Claremont Junior District. McCann credits much of his rapid rise through the ranks to his mentoring in the WAFL Development Squad. “In 2007 I was invited to be apart of the WAFL Development Squad where I gained invaluable experience” he said. “This season I have umpired mainly senior A Grade football in the WAAFL, and have been lucky enough to get a taste of WAFL Colts football too”. Development Squad Coach Terry Battle said McCann displayed all the attributes required to succeed at WAFL level. “What impressed us about Chris was that he clearly worked extremely hard in the off season to come back this year and prove he is ready for the next step. Chris right from the beginning of this year has excelled in all areas of umpiring. He has a tremendous work ethic and implements what he is learning quickly and efficiently. Along with that his fitness has improved to where he is now running in the low 15 minutes for his 4km time trials.”

The other man to be elevated, 20 year old Jason Edwards commenced his umpiring in the East Perth Junior District where he umpired his first game at just 12 years of age. He joined the WAFL Development Squad in 2005 and has steadily progressed through the ranks to be umpiring senior A Grade football in the WAAFL. An electrician by trade, Edwards has umpired two senior amateur grand finals in 2006 and 2007, and in 2006 won the Golden Whistle Award. “We seriously considered Jason to move up to WAFL level last year but he declined due to opening up his own business” said Development Squad Coach Terry Battle. “Jason’s umpiring has been very consistent in 2008. He works tirelessly to improve every facet of his umpiring, and has a great understanding and feel for the game.” Officiating in just his second colts match last weekend Jason was given the opportunity to run with AFL umpire Todd Keating in the East Fremantle versus Peel Thunder clash. It was a rare opportunity to learn first hand from one of his elite peers, as Keating was rested from WAFL league duties so he could fulfil the emergency umpire role in the AFL game at Subiaco Oval later that day.

Both young umpires have settled in to the group and are performing well both on the field and on the training track. “The intensity of the training is a bit of a step up, but I’m really enjoying it” said McCann. Chris and Jason were presented with their WAFL uniforms during the week, with AFL field umpire Dean Margetts and WAFL field umpire’s captain and WANFLUA President David Panagopolous formally handing each of them their gold shirts.