Country umpiring stalwart saluted

The WAFC last week saluted recently retired Lower South West Field Umpire Jeff Bennett.

Bennett was acknowledged with a special Appreciation and Contribution Award in the presence of his country umpire peers, plus WAFL and AFL umpires, at one of the training sessions conducted for country umpires participating at last week’s Landmark Country Championships in Perth.

Bennett fondly recalled commencing umpiring in the LSWFL as a boundary umpire in 1991 after playing football for the Tigers Football Club.

“In 1992, at the age of 30, I took up field umpiring after local umpire coach Danny Blechynden asked me to join the Lower South West Field Umpiring Panel,” he said.

WAFC Umpiring Manager, Senior Competitions, Tim Priest said Bennett was one of many great umpires in regional WA, whom but for work and family commitments could have umpired WAFL.

“Jeff Bennett fits in that category, no doubt. He is quite arguably the best regional umpire in WA football history, second to none.

“While Jeff’s achievements speak for themselves, beyond the records, Jeff remains universally respected as a terrific person by players through to his umpiring peers. He is a community football gem,” Priest said.

Achievements include:

• Umpired in 18 of 19 consecutive Landmark Country Carnivals – commencing 1994.
• 12 Landmark Grand Finals, including 4 times JJ Lussick Award – Best Umpire of Carnival.
• Selected to umpire at the National Landmark Championships on 3 occasions, SA – 2002, WA in 2004 and NSW in 2012.
• Umpired 18 Lower South West Football Grand Finals

Bennett, who was identifying potential WAFL umpires whilst coaching umpires at last weekend’s country carnival said the Landmark Championships had been the highlight of his umpiring career.

“This is where I met so many talented people and made new friends along the way. I have also been able to improve my umpiring and then pass these skills back to the Lower South West Football League to help local umpires out,” he said.