Female umpire to showcase talent at MCGTuesday, August 30, 2011 - 1:56 AM - by Craig O\'Donoghue

Amy McQuade will showcase the WAFL’s increasing number of female field umpires on the MCG next year after being named the 2011 All-Australian field umpire at the AFL Women’s National Championships.

McQuade, who joined the WAFL panel midway through this season, entered the carnival determined to perform well and give herself the best opportunity to excel.

Her reward for being named the umpire of the championships is the opportunity to officiate in the curtain raiser before the Collingwood and Melbourne clash next season.

She will also be part of the training sessions for the women’s academy and attend VFL training.

"I can’t wait," McQuade said.

"I really set myself to have a big championships. I knew what was on offer and wanted to make the most of that chance.

"I was one of the more experienced umpires in terms of the standard I was umpiring at, but they were more experienced in terms of years. I’ve been lucky that I’ve had some great coaches who have taught me a lot in my four years of umpiring."

McQuade was one of only two umpires who were part of a state league panel. She will officiate in her sixth and final colts game this weekend and then focus on community football in the hope of bettering her C Grade grand final last season.

Having umpired at the women’s under 18 national titles last year, McQuade’s improvement this year has been rapid.

She and Amy Treeby have established themselves as field umpires this season, following in the footsteps of female boundary and goal umpires who have been part of the WAFL for many years.

Kendall Ball is one of the competition’s leading goal umpires, Sally Boud made her league debut in the goals this year joining Lauren French among the group of female league umpires.

French’s sister Emmy and Tracey Carrod are also on the WAFL panel.

Elite runner Monique Hollick and former WA cricketer Donna Brown are chasing their first league games on the boundary.

"The girls are really close," McQuade said.

"We get along well, go out to dinner together and there’s a good bond.

"The boys have been really encouraging. It’s tough trying to keep up with them on the training track. It’s hard work but it’s been so much fun."

Picture: Field umpire Amy McQuade, centre, with fellow WA umpires Claire Knight (Boundary) and Teegan Lincoln (Goal) at the AFL Women’s National Championships in Adelaide.