Historic Grand Final goal umpiring appointment Wednesday, September 20, 2023 - 1:12 PM

After a quarter of a century on the WAFL Umpiring Panel Reuben Garlett has been named to officiate in his first League Grand Final on Sunday at Optus Stadium. 

Garlett has been rewarded for an outstanding year as a Goal Umpire but was still surprised to receive the promotion. 

“I felt I'd had a good season, but I was also competing with some quality umpires, and I was shocked to see my name,” Garlett said. 

“Only a handful of umpires are involved in a Grand Final every year, let alone a League Grand Final. 

“It's humbling knowing the calibre of umpires that have come before me and I'm privileged to be part of a great tradition in Western Australian football.” 

Garlett recalled his umpiring journey, which had humble beginnings. 

“I began goal umpiring at Bayswater, my local club, as a teenager to earn a bit of extra pocket money,” he said. 

“At Bayswater, I did a bit of everything, goal, boundary and field umpiring, but it was goal umpiring that I enjoyed the most. 

“In 1997, the WAFC put an advertisement in the paper asking for interest in their Academy of Umpiring introduction to goal umpiring course. 

“I turned up to Kitchener Park in Subiaco, where a group of prospective umpires learned the basics of goal umpiring. 

“After a few weeks, a handful of us were asked to join the Westar Rules goal umpire squad in 1998. 

“I umpired from 1998 to 2003, before taking a break from umpiring. 

“In 2008, I returned to umpiring in the Western Australian Amateur Football League and Sunday Football League. 

“After two years in community football, I returned to the state league. 

“In 2011, my second season back, I made my league debut. 

“While I tried to combine cricket and football umpiring, my first few years in League football were challenging and it took a few years to secure a regular spot, but eventually I was able to become a regular. 

“Like most umpires, getting a gig in the League Grand Final is the goal and I'd had some very good seasons where the best I could get to was the Reserves Grand Final.” 

WAFL & WAFLW Umpiring Operations Manager at the West Australian Football Commission Dean Margetts paid tribute to Garlett’s achievement and his longevity in the sport. 

“To hear the roar of the umpiring group when Rueben’s name was announced as a first time League Grand Final umpire was testament to how respected he is within the walls of umpiring,” Margetts said. 

“After 20 Years and over 150 games of Senior football, Reuben proves the theory that it might not come over night, but it will come if you are patient, persistent and continue to have a desire to grow your game. 

“Rueben has had such a consistent season and his magnet is one that is trusted week in week out.” 

Garlett hails from the Demons District Junior Umpiring Club and will become the first Indigenous Umpire to officiate in a WAFL League Grand Final. 

“There's a long and proud tradition of Indigenous people being involved in the game, mostly as players,” Garlett said. 

“I'd love for the next wave of Indigenous umpires to be able to look to people like me to get the inspiration to take their officiating to the next level.”