Smith reaches 450-game milestone

Boundary Umpire Greg Smith will become the first West Australian to umpire 450 senior games when he officiates this Sunday’s WAFL game between Subiaco and East Fremantle at Medibank Stadium.

Smith commenced umpiring in 1994 and has since umpired 159 AFL games and 291 WAFL games, including two WAFL Grand Finals.

His AFL career ended after the 2005 season, but he returned to the WAFL and has been a staple on the boundary ever since.

Smith said he found it hard to comprehend that he would be umpiring his 450th match.

“It’s a strange feeling,” he said.

“There’s a lot of guys who have done milestones this year and when I hear someone is doing their 250th, I think ‘wow, that’s a lot of games’ and then it hits me that I’ve reached 450.

“It was a year by year process when I came back. I wanted to come back because I enjoyed it and since then every year has gone by.

“I want to improve every year and the younger guys challenge me and push me. Seeing the young guys develop is really exciting. But my goals are always to improve every year.”

Smith was named in the WA National Football League Umpires Association’s Team of the Decade at the 60th anniversary function, the umpiring change rooms are named in his honour and he is a life member of the Association.

AFL Grand Final boundary umpire Nathan Doig said Smith was an umpiring icon.

“Whenever I have a question about boundary umpiring and what I should be doing on the field, Smithy’s the person I go to,” he said.

WAFL Umpire Manager Darryl Sinclair congratulated Smith on reaching the milestone and described it as one of the greatest achievements he’d seen in WA football.

“His dedication and professionalism on and off the field has been fantastic. He has been one of the most consistent throwers going around and his decision making is first class,” he said.