Round 2 of the 2018/19 TIO NTFL season is dedicated to the umpires, who without them we wouldn’t have football and this season it’s a special occasion for a number of reasons.
Umpiring Round is an opportunity for players, coaches, club administrators, the league and fans to acknowledge the role umpires perform and the outstanding contribution umpires make as the competition’s 15th club.
This weekend, senior players and members of the club community have been invited to help umpire their club’s Under 12 Atkinson game at TIO Stadium/Nightcliff on Friday evening.
In addition to showing support for the youngest players in their club and highlighting the role they can play, senior Men’s and Women’s Premier League players will also shake hands with the umpires at the conclusion of their games this weekend.
This season, Umpiring Round is especially important as the umpiring community rallies behind one of their own, Simon Walker. An AFLNT Life Member, with over 200 games experience in the NTFL, including nine Men’s Premier League grand finals, Walker was involved in a car accident near Gunbalanya in late July. After being flown to Sydney for spinal surgery and a subsequent stint in Adelaide, he has made a quicker than expected return to Darwin. Though wheelchair bound and a final prognosis unknown, Walker has shown great commitment to his umpiring family and continues as a coach and mentor for this season’s group.
Walker will also toss the coin before Saturday’s Waratah vs Tiwi Bombers Men’s Premier League game.
2018 NTFL umpiring stats – so far
- Registered umpires – 180
- Number of umpires required for a full week of NTFL games – 290
- Registered male umpires – 140
- Registered female umpires – 40
- Umpires who are 18 and under – 76
- New and interested umpires – 100
NTFL umpiring is a great way to keep fit, make new friends, earn some extra cash and have the best seat in the game! To get involved email samuel.cunningham@afl.com.au. And for more information on umpiring in general visit https://umpire.afl/.
