400 Game Milestone Reward for Elite Boundary Umpire Tuesday, July 25, 2023 - 3:04 PM

Veteran boundary umpire Ryan Kukura will officiate his 400th senior match when East Perth plays Subiaco at Leederville Oval on Saturday afternoon.  

Kukura becomes just the 5th WA umpire to reach the 400-game milestone, joining fellow boundary umpires Greg Smith and Nathan Doig, with Field Umpires Brett Rosebury and Dean Margetts also part of the exclusive group. 

Coming from a high-performance running background, Kukura joined the West Australian National Football League Umpires Association (WANFLUA) panel in 2001 and made his league debut the following season in 2002.  

After overcoming multiple injuries across his first four years on the panel, Kukura was appointed to his first WAFL (West Australian Football League) League Grand Final in 2005. 

He would again feature on local football’s biggest day in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2021, demonstrating his ability to perform at a consistently high standard over more than two decades at the senior elite level. 

Kukura’s nine WAFL grand final appearances are the most by any boundary umpire in the State’s premier football competition. 

Having narrowly missed elevation to the WA-based AFL panel on several occasions during the 2000s, Kukura was rewarded for continued dedication to his craft with a prized AFL contract at the end of 2015. 

Over two seasons on the AFL panel Kukura umpired 24 matches, including his debut game in the match between the West Coast Eagles and Richmond at Subiaco Oval in April 2016. 

Kukura also officiated in four State Games (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2015) and was awarded the John Devine Medal in 2014 as the WAFL’s most outstanding boundary umpire. 

Kukura’s 376 WAFL Games, as part of his 400-game total, make him the record holder for WAFL Games by any umpire to officiate in that competition. 

Dean Margetts, WAFL & WAFLW Umpiring Operations Manager at the West Australian Football Commission, was glowing in his praise of Kukura. 

“To reach 400 games in the football industry is a huge achievement and even more so on the boundary with the sheer running capacity required,” Margetts said. 

“It’s nothing short of phenomenal and Ryan has reached the top at AFL level, but he’s then come back to the WAFL to give back to this day,” he said. 

“A boundary umpire would run close to 15 kms a game, so 400 matches mean you clock up about 6000 kms. 

“Most people would not run that in a lifetime. 

“It is a remarkable feat of durability and resilience. 

“The WAFL Umpiring Team is very proud of Ryan’s achievement, and it should be celebrated across the WA Football Industry.” 

WAFL Boundary Umpire Coaches Geoff O’Neill and Greg Gilbee declared Ryan a role model for many of his colleagues.  

“Ryan’s achievement is remarkable demonstrating a level of resilience and commitment to boundary umpiring that not many have or will ever achieve,” they said. 

“Ryan is a true competitor both on the track and in games, who contributes to the development of others at training with tips and pointers on Throw in Technique and Skill Improvement. 

“Congratulations Ryan on an outstanding career and best wishes for a fantastic 400th On the Paint.”