Pre-Season umpire medallists recognised

Three umpires were recognised for their dedication and performance over the WA Football League pre-season at the WA National Football League Umpire Association (WANFLUA) Annual Panel Awards Night held on Tuesday, March 14, at EJ Pavillion in South Perth.

West Perth District field umpire Louis Jago was awarded the Ross Capes Medal for an outstanding pre-season.

WAAFL boundary umpire Mitch Vernon capped off a strong pre-season after he was awarded the Ron Hall Medal.

Goal umpire David Hayes was recognised for his very confident performances over the pre-season and was awarded the Merv Rose Medal.

Former WAFL Boundary Umpire George Pampacos was named the Umpiring Ball Legend for 2017 and received WANFLUA Life Membership.

Pampacos umpired 234 WAFL League games and two WAFL Grand Finals and was inducted into the WANFLUA Hall of Fame in 2009.

WAFL Umpire Manager Darryl Sinclair said Pampacos was a worthy recipient of Life Membership of the WANFLUA.

“He is an outstanding role model for our young boundary umpire team and the fantastic work he achieved proves he is deserving of this honour,” he said

Umpire trainer Alyce Newman was recognised for her contribution to the game with the Service to Umpiring award.

Sinclair said Newman has become a true role model for young females entering the umpiring system.

“Newman started in her role as an umpire trainer in 2004 and through her development has laid the foundation for other aspiring female umpire trainers,” he said.

This Sunday former WAFL Field Umpire Nathan Williamson will umpire his first AFL game when Fremantle play Geelong in the opening round of AFL at Domain Stadium after he was added to the AFL Umpire Panel following an outstanding 2016 season.

Sinclair said the umpire fraternity were delighted with Nathan’s progress.

“Nathan has worked extremely hard to make it to the elite level and we are all thrilled with his promotion, and the collective team effort by numerous coaches and mentors who played an important role in his development,” he said.

Download the – 2017 Umpire List