Margetts reaches 450 game milestone

Round 1, 1999. East Fremantle and South Fremantle kicked off the season with a typically spiteful Fremantle Derby. Current Perth coach Earl Spalding led out the Sharks, while Peter Worsfold captained the Bulldogs.

While this seemed like a fairly standard game of WAFL, it became a special moment for a 23-year-old Dean Margetts.

The up-and-coming WAFL umpire was adjudicating his first game of league footy. 20 years and 18 seasons later, and that same aspiring umpire will walk onto the SCG in his 450th senior WAFL/AFL game.

“I was as nervous as anything,” Margetts reminisced of the 99’ derby.

“Making your League debut is one thing, but in a Freo Derby, that’s a whole different layer. I will never forget Peter Repper coming to my aid during the game, I had just paid a 50/50 to EF and then SF captain Peter Worsfold gave me an almighty spray.”

“Almost out of thin air “Reps” appeared and said words to the effect of “Woosh if you ever speak to one my young blokes like that again I will rip your head off!”

“Things were different back then, but I’ll never forget that moment, I knew umpiring was a place where your mates had your back.”

Margetts’ rise through the ranks became rapid, umpiring his first WAFL Grand Final the following year, before being elevated to AFL level in 2002.

Nowadays if you think of the WA Umpiring fraternity, you think of Dean Margetts.

“It’s hard to fathom that the journey has been 20 years,” Margetts said.

“It feels great (to reach 450) but until recently it isn’t something I’ve given much thought to.”

“To join my good mate Brett Rosebury as the games record holders is something extremely special and something I am proud of. Two lads from Maddington and Armadale could achieve some good outcomes is a positive for all.”

The love of the game was formed by Margetts’ early in his childhood, with his father credited as the individual that introduced him to football.

“I love the game and have been involved in footy since my dad took me down to Maddington Junior Football Club when I was seven,” he claimed.

“I’ve either played, coached or umpired for the past 38 years.”

Despite the difficulties that, at times, can face umpires, the WAFC staff member wouldn’t change his career for anything.

“It does take some time to not listen to outside noise, but I am used to it now, nothing really fazes me,” he said. “My work mates probably give me more stick on a Monday morning anyway, so that toughens you up quick.”

“In saying that, I still get tingles as I walk out with my close mates on some of the best grounds in Australia, umpiring one of the greatest sports in the world.”

After the weekend the resume’ will read 341 AFL games and 109 WAFL games, however the finishing line isn’t in sight yet for Margetts.

“I do get asked fairly often, when is it going to end?” “When I fall off the training pack or lose my desire to compete, then maybe.”

“You are a long time retired as they say. My body feels good and I am fortunate the injury curse hasn’t got me yet.”

“Let’s hope we are maybe talking again in 50 games’ time.”

Whatever the result on the weekend, Dean Margetts will walk out onto the SCG a proud man.