Top umpires recognised in annual WANFLUA awards night

The Western Australian National Football League Umpires Association (WANFLUA) hosted their night of nights last week at Burswood on Crown, recognising the standout umpires for the 2025 Sullivan Logistics WAFL season.

The most prestigious umpiring awards went to Ben Laycock, who claimed the Montgomery Medal for Field Umpire of the Year, Bailey Foulk who was named Devine medallist as Boundary Umpire of the Year and Luke Caifano who won the Carter Medal as Boundary Umpire of the Year.

Emerging boundary umpire Daniel Russo won a pair of awards, taking out the Dalgleish Doig Development Squad Umpire of the Year honour to go with the Rising Star award for the best young talent across all fields.

Overall there were 16 award winners across field, boundary and goal umpiring to go with the Alyce Newman Trainer of the Year award which went to Emma Irving.

The careers of WA-raised AFL umpires – brothers Jeff and Brett Dalgleish – were celebrated after both retired this season.

Jeff umpired 278 AFL games as a field umpire across 17 seasons, including six finals and the 2015 grand final, and a total of of 398 league games which is the third most in WANFLUA history behind Brett Rosebury and Dean Margetts. Brett Rosebury and Dean Margetts.

His younger brother Brett was an AFL boundary umpire for 293 AFL games including 18 finals.

Grant Vernon was the recipient of the John McKay Life Members award for his services to the WANFLUA.

WA Football’s WAFL & WAFLW Umpiring Operations Manager Tom Morrison said the well-supported event was a fantastic way to honour the best umpires in the State while thanking the entire umpiring community for their efforts across the season.

“It was wonderful to have the event well supported by prominent WA Football staff, including CEO Michael Roberts, current and former AFL umpires as well as the AFL’s Umpire List and Talent Manager Adam Davis,” Morrison said.

“The stakeholders of the WAFL program have worked hard to improve the offering to our umpires and ultimately our great game, so it was nice to have an opportunity to thank the coaches, support staff and umpires for their efforts at WAFL level across the course of the season.

“This year saw the repurposing of the Ross Capes, Ron Hall and Merv Rose medals, formally known as the ‘pre-season medals’, now presented to the ‘Clubperson of the Year’ for each discipline.

“These were won by Janhavi Kondhalkar (field), Lewis Williams (boundary) and Tyler Anderson (goal).?

“The pinnacle of the night for the umpires was the awarding of the Umpire of the Year Awards for each discipline.

“This year, the Carter Medal for Goal Umpire of the Year went to Luke Caifano, the Devine Medal for Boundary Umpire of the Year went to Bailey Foulk and the Montgomery Medal for Field Umpire of the Year went to Ben Laycock.

“They are all deserving winners after having very strong seasons.”

WANFLUA Award Winners

Field

Montgomery Medal – Field Umpire of the Year: Ben Laycock

Michael Ball Talent Academy Umpire of the Year: Will Turner

Hendrie Margetts Development Squad Umpire of the Year: Kai Samers

Brett Rosebury Medal – Most Improved Field Umpire: Mitch Forsyth

Ross Capes Medal – Clubperson of the Year: Janhavi Kondhalkar

Boundary

Devine Medal – Boundary Umpire of the Year: Bailey Foulk

Greg Smith Talent Academy Umpire of the Year: Toby Riches

Dalgleish Doig Development Squad Umpire of the Year: Daniel Russo

Nathan Doig Medal – Most Improved Boundary Umpire: Tara Reed

Ron Hall Medal: Lewis Williams

Goal

Carter Medal – Goal Umpire of the Year: Luke Caifano

Shawcross Talent Academy Umpire of the Year: Muneerah Foster

Boud Rogers Development Squad Umpire of the Year: Patrick Hillery

Brett Rogers Medal – Most Improved Goal Umpire: Matthew Davis

Merv Rose Medal: Tyler Anderson

Other

Rising Star Umpire: Daniel Russo

Alyce Newman Trainer of the Year: Emma Irving