Rocket, Scott, George lead the way … but need more to join

THREE long serving umpires are approaching the incredible milestone of officiating a combined 1,500 AFL North Coast matches.

Rod MacPherson, Scott Bellamy and George Massaad have all been umpiring for more than two decades.

Trying to recall when he first started blowing a whistle, Bellamy doesn’t say when and where his first game was. He uses a far more unique method to remember how long he’s been umpiring.

“I’ve organised 21 end of season weekends away to Crescent Head for the umpiring group,” Bellamy said.

MacPherson, who’s been umpiring a year longer than the other two said it’s that kind of camaraderie among the umpiring group that keeps him coming back every year.

“The same as the football teams, we’ve made our umpiring group like a club. We offer plenty of support and encouragement to each other and we’re always looking out for one another,” MacPherson said.

“We get together and have a laugh, we joke around but deep down there’s a real peer support element the group offers to each member of the team.”

When asked why he took up umpiring back in 2000, MacPherson said it was simply a way of staying involved in footy that attracted him.

“I’d had enough of playing. In my last year, I’d play on Saturday and wouldn’t be able to move properly until Wednesday or Thursday,” he said.

“Scotty, George and I actually all played together but when I was done playing, umpiring allowed us a chance to stay involved. You’re still doing something that helps you to stay fit but I wasn’t copping the hits anymore.

“It’s something you can do for a lot of years because you’re not pulling up sore every week.”

Bellamy added that being able to remain close to the action every week is an aspect of the role he really enjoys.

“If you’re not playing, being an umpire offers you the best seat in the house,” Bellamy said.

“And it doesn’t matter how many games you’ve umpired, every game you learn something new. There’s something else to add to the memory bank.

“And you get to give back to the game. All the umpires really love the game. If you didn’t love it, you wouldn’t do it.”

While the trio has been an integral part of the umpiring group for such a long period, Massaad said it’s been great to see some new umpires coming through. But like the rest of the group, he’d like to see even more people join the group.

“We always need new blood,” Massaad said.

“It’s been great the past couple of years with new people. Having some girls and women come on board has been really good as well. It shows that umpiring is something that anybody can get into whether it be at the junior level, senior level or both.”

Anybody thinking of umpiring at any level in the AFL North Coast in 2022 can register their interest by sending an email to emily.brown@afl.com.au. Introductory training will be offered as part of the AFL North Coast Education Roadshow on Saturday 12 March (10:30am to 2:00pm), RSVP to attend either through your club or via Emily Brown.