Football
2 May, 2025
Umpiring world-first at Murtoa
For a 15-year-old preparing to make his senior debut, mentoring doesn't come better than this.
Hot on the heels of news that AFL All Australian and grand final umpire Rob Findlay would lead a training session in Horsham on Wednesday, Victorian umpire recruitment and retention officer Cameron Pickering has announced a world-first for the region.
For the first time ever, a current AFL umpire will officiate in a community game.
Tomorrow, John Howorth – an AFL ump with 130-plus games to his credit who started his career in the Wimmera – will run out onto the ground for the main Minyip Murtoa versus Warrack Eagles game.
It will be the first time an AFL listed umpire has officiated senior community football anywhere in Australia.
Howorth will share responsibility with Wimmera Football Netball League umpire Phoenix Hopper, 15, who, with the support of Pickering as his coach, has been chosen to make his debut at senior level.
On Wednesday evening during a training session for the Wimmera Mallee Umpires Association as part of Community Umpiring Round, Findlay surprised Hopper with the announcement.
"John first umpired in the Wimmera more than 15 years ago before making his mark in the AFL but has always remembered where it all started for him: in community-level country footy," Pickering said.
"He presented a shirt to Phoenix in 2023 when he was just starting out and officiated his first senior game at 13 years of age, noting the challenges a field ump faces in regional areas and encouraging him to stick at it.
"He's coming back this round after umpiring AFL on Thursday evening to mentor Phoenix as he takes another step in his field umpire journey."
Tomorrow Howorth will be on the sidelines earlier in the day to coach up-and-coming field umpire Zack Pickering, 12, in the reserves match.
Pickering made his own senior umpiring debut this season and will play for Kalkee before stepping up to run the Minyip Murtoa–Warracknabeal game.
The reserves are due to kick off at 12.30pm, followed by the seniors at 2.10pm, as Minyip Murtoa host the Eagles at Murtoa Recreation Reserve.
