VFL ROUND 5 MAY 3-4, 2014 CCommunityommunity UUmpiringmpiring RRoundound $3.00 PPortort MMelbourneelbourne 110.11-710.11-71 d WWilliamstownilliamstown 55.14-44.14-44 AFL VICTORIA CORPORATE PARTNERS NAMING RIGHTS PREMIER PARTNERS OFFICIAL PARTNERS APPROVED LICENSEES EDITORIAL Community Umpiring Round One of the great by-products of football is the enjoyment and friendships that accompanies it. Not only are these two things an intrinsic part of playing with the umpires before the match. involvement in the game, they are also a legacy within the This is a simple but important umpiring fraternity. gesture. Shaun Gleeson, who umpired his 100th VFL match in the So as we celebrate ‘Community ANZAC Day game between Frankston and Richmond, Umpiring’ this weekend, I would like to acknowledge and refl ected that one of the lasting memories he’s had in a express my sincere thanks to Kevin Mitchell, who retired career that has seen him umpire two Peter Jackson VFL as the AFL Victoria State Umpiring Manager late last year Grand Finals, is the lifelong friends he’s met as well as the after 24 years in the role. social interaction. During this time “Mitch” coached, nurtured and educated Gleeson said the camaraderie within the umpiring numerous umpires primarily involved at VFL and TAC Cup community is for him one of the motivational drivers each level with the ultimate goal of raising the standard of and every season. umpiring. Umpires, like footballers and fans, share a genuine passion Counting the time when he umpired 236 VFL/AFL games, for the game and while there is the obligatory roller- 23 fi nals and 8 Grand Finals, Kevin has served the umpiring coaster ride from time-to-time the pleasure, enjoyment and satisfaction is just the same. fraternity for 51 years continuously. For umpires, too, Australian Rules is the greatest game in More than a half century devoted to umpiring and if you ask the world. him he’ll genuinely say he loved every moment to it. Umpiring offers a range of benefi ts, regardless of the We wish Kevin well in his retirement. offi ciating level. It is a fantastic way to keep fi t and healthy, Cameron Nash, a former umpire and son of AFL Victoria be involved on fi eld in the game, challenge yourself and Umpire Development Manager Neville Nash, has taken imparts the life skills of discipline, leadership and decision- over the role from Kevin. making within a team environment. It has been an interesting journey for Cameron who himself Regardless of your gender, nationality or exposure to the umpired in the VFL, became the director of umpiring in game, anyone can be involved in umpiring. If this sounds the Eastern Football League and more recently moved like something you would like to participate in simply visit to Queensland to help grow umpiring and support the umpireafl .com.au or contact your local league. development of AFL Umpires with AFL Queensland. Signifi cantly, more and more players, like former St Kilda Along the way Cameron has been able to engage and player Leigh Fisher are turning to umpiring after their connect with umpires at community football level where all football playing days are over. In recent years, many of today’s VFL and TAC Cup umpires originate. community leagues have also targeted former or retiring players to bolster their umpiring ranks. The recruitment, training and retention of umpires is one of the most important elements of our great game. And, the added upside of being involved at a young age in Prospective umpires, please apply, the game needs you! umpiring is that you can earn some money doing it. One of the highlights of this week’s Community Umpiring Grant Williams Round, is that all coaches and players will shake hands AFL Victoria General Manager Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Adrian Dunn, Dave O’Neill, Kate Mitchell Design & Print: Cyan Press Photos: AFL Photo’s (unless otherwise credited) Visy Park, Gate 3, Royal Parade, Carlton Nth, VIC 3054 Advertising: Ryan Webb (03) 8341 6062 GPO Box 4337, Melbourne, VIC 3001 AFL Victoria General Manager: Grant Williams Phone: (03) 8341 6000 | Fax: (03) 9380 1076 State League & Talent Manager: John Hook www.afl vic.com.au High Performance Managers: Anton Grbac, Leon Harris Talent Operations Coordinator: Rhy Gieschen Cover photo: Community Umpiring Round Talent Operations Coordinator: Lauren Bunting www.vfl .com.au 1 MEDIA COVERAGE ABC TV Saturday May 3: Northern Blues vs Coburg, 1pm Next Week: Footscray vs Sandringham VFL Radio Sunday May 4: Sandringham vs Essendon. From 1:30pm Live on Digital Radio via Aussie, Red Time Sport and SEN I-Phone Apps, online via vfl .com.au or sen.com.au and on Vision Australia Radio on 1179AM Next game: Frankston vs Williamstown 3WBC Saturday May 3: Box Hill Hawks vs Frankston, 1pm Listen to 94.1FM, online at www.3wbc.org.au or the Tune In Radio app Next game (May 17): Richmond vs Box Hill Hawks Casey Radio Sunday May 4: Casey Scorpions vs Werribee Tigers, 1pm Tune to 97.7fm in Melbourne, via the web at www.caseyradio.com.au, or on the Tune In Radio app on your smart phone. Next game: Northern Blues vs Casey Scorpions SEN Thursday May 8 The Peter Jackson VFL Show 8:30pm – 9pm Peter Jackson VFL Podcast Visit the VFL website each Tuesday for the Peter Jackson VFL Podcast. Join Peter Marcato and Anthony Stanguts each week as they analyse each round, and chat to special guests. Guests this week were: Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres, Sandringham coach Simon McPhee and AFL Victoria’s State League Head Umpiring Coach Cameron Nash. Find the link on vfl .com.au or search ‘AFL Victoria’ on SoundCloud VFL Online Keep up to date with the Peter Jackson VFL via the following methods: Website: www.vfl .com.au @VFLnews #PJVFL www.facebook.com/vfl footy 2 www.afl vic.com.au MARCO BELLO Bello back in the box seat with the Hawks There is not much that Marco Bello hasn’t done at Box Hill Hawks. Bello played with the VFL Hawks in two stints, the fi rst the Box Hill boys, most of whom have been here three, under legendary coach John Murphy in 1996-97 and then four, fi ve years, view it as their club. in 2009 under Brendan Bolton (after playing with Central “Anytime someone comes in or out they make them feel Districts in the SANFL). welcome and know they are going to play their role for He played in a Development League premiership in 2010 the side.” and then coached the club to a Development League Bello believes one of the reasons why Box Hill Hawks has premiership in 2011. been such a strong club is that it promotes from within Bello took Box Hill Hawks Development League back to without embarking on any extravagant recruiting drives. the Grand Final in 2012, but they fell seven points shy of He said that inclusiveness has led to a stable toppling Coburg Tigers. environment and strong retention numbers. Now, Bello can add VFL coach to his list of achievements “We’re not into just going out and recruiting guys for at the Whitehorse Road Oval. namesake or for chasing an elusive premiership,” Bello said. After one season coaching TAC Cup club Northern “We need to reward these guys and they are great young Knights, Bello needed all of a nano-second to accept the footballers who deserve an opportunity to play at the position when incumbent Damian Carroll moved into a level.” new role in the Hawthorn coaching hierarchy. Bello watched from the stands at Etihad Stadium as Box Hill Hawks produced its fi nest game for the season on FOXTEL CUP the biggest day of the year, upsetting raging favorites Box Hill Hawks kicks off its FOXTEL Cup campaign Geelong to win the clubs second VFL premiership. on Tuesday night at Etihad Stadium against Within weeks, Bello found himself as the coach of the West Perth. reigning premiers. “It was a surprise and a welcome one Tune to Fox Footy at 8:30pm on TV or at that,” he said. via 3WBC on radio Knowing so many people - offi cials, staff and players - as well as the culture of the club and how the alignment with Hawthorn works made it easier for Bello. In that regard it has been both a seamless and enjoyable return to a club that he knows so well, but one that brings with it a new challenge. “Obviously, DC (Carroll) has worked hard and been rewarded and now I get the opportunity to slip into his shoes and have a go,” Bello said. “It’s the people, fi rst and foremost, that makes the culture of the club so strong at both ends. “The Hawthorn boys that come down really embrace the Box Hill culture and the Box Hill club and www.vfl .com.au 3 4 www.afl vic.com.au LACHLAN GEORGE The well-travelled road to 100 VFL games No one was more disappointed than Gerard FitzGerald when Lachlan George left North Ballarat in 2007 bound for Tasmania. FitzGerald coached George for two years at TAC Cup level During his time in Tasmania, George got to know Brendan as well as his fi rst year with the Roosters when he made a Bolton, the then coach of Clarence in the local league, seamless transition to the VFL sister club. who he was aligned to play with when not playing for the But, George, by his own admission, sought an escape after Devils.