MacKillop College bounces into action

AFL Victoria, in partnership with MacKillop Catholic Regional College and the Western Region Football League, has established its fourth school based umpiring academy in metropolitan Victoria.

 

Former AFL field umpire and teacher at MacKillop, Mark Westgarth, welcomed Neville Nash (AFL Victoria Umpire Development Manager), John Batty (CEO Western Region Football League), David Newton (Football Operations Manager, WRFL) and Terry Gunn (Umpire Manager, WRFL) to the college recently as the group was taken on a tour of the school’s excellent training facilities which will be made available for the students in the academy.

 

The school based umpiring academy initiative follows the successful introduction of umpiring academies at St Bernard’s College (Essendon), St Bede’s College (Mentone) and Parade College (Bundoora). Two other academies will be established in 2009 at Camberwell Grammar and Ringwood Secondary College bringing the number of academies in metropolitan Victoria to six.

 

Already 17 students from McKillop have expressed their interest in joining the Academy in preparation for an umpiring career in the Western Region Football League. Mark Westgarth believes that number will grow once the school year starts.

 

Neville Nash states, “The experience of a former AFL field umpire will prove invaluable in the development of a new umpire. The idea is to provide the local District League (the WRFL) with a solid base of young umpires who will have the opportunity to take on a rewarding career as an AFL field umpire. They will be following in the footsteps of other local AFL field umpires Mick Dye, Chris Mitchell, Peter Howe, Matthew James and Troy Pannell.

 

“The academy will provide students with theoretical and practical lessons leading to participation in the Mentor Green Shirt Program, umpiring a junior match under the watchful eye of an experienced umpire.”

 

WRFL Umpire Manager Terry Gunn is excited by the initiative, “After seeing the success of the academies at St Bernards, St Bedes and Parade, I am confident that it will be a real boost to umpire numbers in the WRFL. With an experienced umpire like Mark involved, it is a ‘win win’ situation for the WRFL. We are also talking to the College regarding about the possibility of using McKillop as a training venue for Werribee based umpires.”

 

WRFL CEO John Batty stated, “This is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen umpiring in the WRFL. The academy is in the centre of the league’s growth corridor and the facilities are fantastic.”

 

Mark concluded by saying that the venture captures Rory Kennedy’s (MacKillop College Principal) enthusiastic ideals of providing the best opportunities for young people’s involvement in sport. Mark also added that the opportunity to join the academy will be extended to other local Colleges including Westbourne Grammar and Thomas Carr.