WAFL umpire added to AFL listMonday, November 11, 2019 - 1:38 PM

WAFL umpire Dan Johanson from the West Perth Junior Umpiring District has been elevated to the AFL Field Umpiring list for 2020.

Johnason, who replaces retiring AFL Umpire Shane McInerney, will joins Brett Rosebury, Dean Margetts, Jeff Dalgleish, Nathan Williamson and Justin Power as the sixth former WAFL umpire on the AFL list of 34.

Johanson has umpired 70 senior WAFL games, including the 2019 WAFL Grand Final, since commencing with the WAFL in 2014.

He was an AFL Rookie for the 2019 AFL Season and has also been part of the AFLW Umpiring team since 2018.

Johanson said he was thrilled to receive the news and was looking forward to making the most of the opportunity. 

“It’s a dream come true, I’m absolutely rapt with the news. I can’t wait to get stuck into pre-season training with the AFL guys and putting my best foot forward for the 2020 season from the outset,” he said.

“A lot of hard work and effort from not only me but also a team of individuals gets you to this point. I’d really like to acknowledge my WAFL coaches and leadership team especially Dean Margetts and Cam Douglas and my teammates at Umpiring WA, and also my amazing girlfriend Tara and my two amazing parents Alan and Julie who have been and will continue to be amazing supports for me.”

“In terms of aspirations from this point it would be to put together a really strong pre-season and continue to work on areas of my game that I need to get better at. Selection for AFL games will take care of itself if I keep that growth mindset that has taken me this far.”

WAFL & Talent Pathway Umpiring WA Manager Dean Margetts congratulated Johanson on his appointment to the AFL panel, which is the third from WA in the past four years.

“Dan has demonstrated over the past 18 months all the attributes that you require to be successful at the highest level,” Margetts said.

“He is a very strong self-assessor of his own performance and invests so much time into his physical conditioning to allow him to be in the best position possible on game day. Dan has matured into his role as an umpire and shows great leadership and lives all the core values and standards of the Umpiring WA Program.”

“We are thrilled that Dan now has the opportunity to cement himself on the AFL List for many years to come. It validates our Umpiring WA Program when umpires like Dan progress from a Junior District through to the top of the pathway pyramid.”