Sally makes her AFL debutMonday, May 9, 2016 - 9:22 AM

Sally Boud is proof that good things happen to good people. On Saturday, Boud made her AFL goal umpiring debut when Fremantle clashed with GWS at Domain Stadium.

Since signing her AFL contract, there has been a significant amount of interest in Boud’s progression because she is the first female from Western Australia to gain a position on the AFL panel.

But while Boud’s gender is impossible to ignore, so was her talent. A dual WAFL grand final umpire, Boud has also officiated in a Foxtel Cup grand final. In an era of strong competition for positions in the WAFL goal umpiring ranks, Boud stood out ahead of her colleagues.

“She’s exceptional at her job,” WAFL Umpiring Manager Darryl Sinclair said.

“Her ability to read the game so she is in the best position to judge a score sets her apart from the rest. Her speed and agility are also significant strengths.

“We do a lot of testing and Sal has the physical attributes to change direction at speed to ensure she can also be in the best position for any unpredictable kick. Those skills are rare and that’s why she’s on the AFL list.”

Boud has always been a student of her craft. While her focus has always been goal umpiring, she recognised the importance of understanding the skills required to be field or boundary umpire.

So, while goal umpiring in the WAFL, she took time on days off to either be a field or boundary umpire. The sight of her arriving at Domain Stadium to field umpire a little league game, just hours after completing goal umpiring duties in the WAFL showed how committed she was to learning.

That commitment is one reason why Boud developed quickly. But her leadership was also paramount.

Voted into the WAFL umpiring leadership team before she had made her league debut, Boud’s contribution to group has been profound.

“There were a lot of happy people when she walked onto the ground on the weekend,” Sinclair said.

“Obviously Sal’s debut is a big win for female umpiring. If you consider we’ve had Kendell Ball and Lauren French also selected to goal umpire WAFL grand finals, it is clear that we have a great pathway for women.

“We now have females on the WAFL list in field, boundary and goal. I’m certain that Sally’s leadership has a lot to do with that.

“She has enormous respect from everyone involved in umpiring in this state because she has achieved success while also dedicating a lot of time to improving other people.”

Boud is the third West Australian to debut in the AFL this season following in the footsteps of boundary umpires Ryan Kukura and Josh Garrett.