WA Umpires RecognisedWednesday, September 25, 2013 - 1:04 PM

The West Australian Football Commission congratulates WA boundary umpire Nathan Doig and Field Umpire Brett Rosebury on being appointed to this weekend’s AFL Grand Final, while also acknowledging outgoing WAFL umpires Stuart Parry and Gavin Statham and newly appointed Field Umpire Coach Gareth Parker.

Doig, who has umpired 162 AFL games, 10 AFL Finals and 77 WAFL games, has been appointed to umpire his second AFL Grand Final after running the boundary in 2011.

Rosebury has umpired 280 AFL Games, 29 Finals and 5 Grand Finals, as well as 54 WAFL games.

WAFL Umpire Manager Darryl Sinclair congratulated Doig and Rosebury on their appointments and also saluted retiring umpires Stuart Parry and Gavin Statham on their outstanding careers and wonderful contribution to the game both on and off the field.

“Throughout their careers they have led by example, umpired consistently over a long period of time, been actively involved with coaching initiatives and shown great resilience in a challenging role,” Sinclair said.

“On behalf of WAFC Umpiring, congratulations to Nathan, Brett, Gavin and Stuart.”

Parry and Statham announced their retirements on the weekend after more than 550 League games collectively, including nine Grand Finals.

Statham joined the WAFL Umpiring Panel in 1995 and umpired 319 games and four grand finals, while Parry commenced in 2002 and umpired 239 League games including five grand finals. Both are recipients of the Ray Montgomery Medal, which is awarded to the best umpire each season.

To continue the development and retention of umpires, WAFL Umpire coaches have been appointed for the positions of Field, Boundary and Goal for 2014 following a thorough selection process lead by a WAFC Steering Committee including WAFL Operations Manager Cameron Knapton.

The selection panel reappointed Andrew Ball as Boundary Umpire Coach and Colin Shawcross as Goal Umpire Coach, while Gareth Parker was a new appointment as Field Umpire Coach.

Sinclair said that Parker, who has umpired 154 WAFL games and 1 Grand Final, would bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, which would be of great benefit to the inexperienced umpires he will oversee.

Parker’s grandfather Clive Lewington was the winner of the 1947 Sandover Medal playing for South Fremantle and his mother Professor Helen Parker was the WAFC’s first female Commissioner.