WA umpire sets new heightsTuesday, December 8, 2015 - 3:32 PM

Perth-based AFL field umpire Jeff Dalgleish was awarded the Slater and Gordon Official of the Year at the RAC WA Sports Star Awards held at the Perth Convention Centre on Monday, December 7.

The awards night recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements of the state's premier sports people across a diverse range of sporting codes.

Dalgleish was among 23 award nominations and two finalists who had represented Australia in hockey and netball at world cup events.

"I am absolutely humbled by the award. Sport plays such an important role in making our community safer, happier and healthier and we really enjoy playing our part for the broader sporting community," Mr Dalgleish said.

Dalgleish has umpired 232 league games including 113 AFL matches since commencing with the WAFL in 2003.

WAFL Umpire Manager Darryl Sinclair said Mr Dalgleish was a well-deserving winner of the award having achieved a lot both on and off the field this season.

"Jeff's dedication to umpiring has been fantastic and the high training standards he sets off the field has helped him reach the pinnacle of umpiring," Mr Sinclair said.

It has been an outstanding year for Dalgleish who became the first field umpire living outside of Victoria to officiate in an AFL Grand Final.

"Living outside of Victoria does bring it's own challenges, particularly with interstate travel, but Jeff's attitude and desire to be the best he can be has never been wavered," Mr Sinclair said.

Dalgleish was one of three WA umpires named for this year's AFL Grand Final, joining forces with boundary umpire Nathan Doig and former WA umpire Brett Rosebury.

His achievement makes him the 18th youngest umpire in the history of AFL/VFL to umpire a grand final.