Four local umpires have been selected to represent the Territory at the 2019 NAB National Under 16 Championships and NAB AFLW Under 18s Championships on the Gold Coast during the second week of July.
After both serving five years in the NEAFL, experienced field umpire Jamieson Galbraith and boundary umpire, Jasper Hutt have been selected as part of the Under 16s National Championships umpire panel.
Boundary umpire Jaren Walsh will combine with field umpire Patrick Rawthorne and head to the Gold Coast as part of the AFLW Under 18s Championships umpiring panel.
All four umpires are currently part of the NEAFL Development Squad, after successful campaigns in the 2018/19 TIO NTFL season with all officiating a Premier League Grand Final and between them have umpired over 203 Premier League games.
Being selected to umpire in these championships is one step closer to realising their dream to umpire at AFL level and is a significant step in an umpire’s talent pathway. Umpires performances will be observed, just like the players, and those who show promise continue to develop are supported along this process.
The AFL Umpires Academy is the next step along the talent pathway where AFL Umpires are selected from. These four Territorians are on their way to be the next generation of AFL Umpires and that is encouraging for AFL in the Top End.
Hutt is also a member of the NTIS High Performance Officiating Program, which brings officials and mentors together from various sports to aspire to and achieve high level national and international standards.
AFLNT Umpiring Manager Andrew McBean is extremely proud of the development that these umpires have made throughout the NTFL and NEAFL seasons.
“Congratulations to all the umpires who have been selected, I’m very pleased to see them rewarded for the effort they have put in, both on and off the field to get them to this level.
“This experience will provide them with exposure to the national pathway and we look forward to watching their growth and maturity through these championships,” said McBean.
The NEAFL Umpiring Development Squad train on Tuesday and Thursday nights at TIO Oval 2, media wishing to interview or cover these special appointments are welcome to make contact.