Football
13 May, 2024
Wimmera umpires celebrate community umpiring week
On Saturday night, ten football umpires from the Wimmera took part in celebrations for Community Umpiring Week during round nine of the AFL season at the Richmond v Western Bulldogs match at the MCG.
Harrison Foster (Murtoa), Zack Pickering, Nate Bacon, Lenny Bacon, Kirrily Dandy, Frank Marklew, Harry Adams, Maverick Adams, Malakai Van Buuren and Amelia Van Buuren (Horsham) all took part in the on field activations before the match.
Unfortunately, aspiring nine-year-old umpire Fletcher Dandy was unable to participate due to health issues.
Instead of missing out, the AFL umpiring team decided to take the celebrations to Fletcher, paying him a visit and presenting him with a signed AFL umpire's top - complete with every signature from the elite umpire list.
With permission from the AFL, we are able to incorporate part of his story. You can check out the full story on the AFL website, https://www.afl.com.au/news/1126954/afl-umpire-trio-makes-fletchers-day
Fletcher was diagnosed with Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES) disease when he was just four years old. The incredibly rare disease only affects approximately 200 children in the world. Five years later in March this year while getting a check-up, he was also diagnosed with Leukemia – completely unrelated to FIRES. It is believed he is the first person in the world to have both diseases.
Although he is unable to play contact sport, Fletcher is footy and umpire obsessed, constantly playing pretend games on the street and keeping score against himself. He's also a massive Cats fan and his favourite player is Patrick Dangerfield.
Fletcher's father Simon Dandy, a local umpire himself who has notched up 110 games as part of the Wimmera Mallee Umpires Association said his son received a huge thrill from the visit.
"He just loved it, his face when they came through the door was priceless, I don't think he could believe it," Simon said.
"He was really looking forward to walking out on the MCG ahead of the Richmond v Bulldogs game and having that incredible experience, so when we realised he wasn't able to attend, it was upsetting.
"I'd like to sincerely thank the AFL and the AFL umpiring team for visiting Fletcher and bringing a piece of the celebrations to us.
"I've recently taken up umpiring after playing footy and I absolutely love it. My 13-year-old daughter Kirrily has also started boundary umpiring and I'm pleased she'll be able to take part in the activities on the MCG.
"We've formed a really strong connection with the Wimmera Mallee Umpires Association and the support we've received from this community has been incredible and it means the world to our family."
AFL Executive General Manager of Game Development, Rob Auld, said celebrating Community Umpiring Week in Round nine is an important initiative for the growth of umpiring throughout the country.
“Community Umpiring Week is a terrific initiative and provides us with an opportunity to celebrate, recognise and promote the invaluable contribution umpires at all levels make to Australian football,” Auld said.
“We were also able to provide experiences for our community and junior umpires to connect with the elite game, enabling them to learn from the best, participate in AFL match-day experiences and help develop their skills and further their career.
“As the game continues to grow, we need to ensure we’re attracting more people to get involved in umpiring. We’re pleased to see a 32 per cent growth in women and girls’ registrations compared to this time last year, however we need to keep pushing and ensuring once they’re in, we’re supporting our umpires in the best possible way.
“We know there are many benefits of umpiring spanning from health and wellbeing to social, and it offers a great opportunity for anyone to be involved in our game regardless of age, gender and football experience.
“On behalf of the AFL I would like to thank the more than 17,000 registered community umpires across the country who head out each weekend and officiate thousands of games – without their dedication and skillset, the ball wouldn’t be bounced.
“I also want to recognise and thank the AFLUA and all the AFL/AFLW listed umpires who provide fantastic support and their time to supporting and growing umpiring at all levels.”