Rising umpire receives golden accolade

THE Ballarat Football Umpires Association’s presentation and grand final appointments night earlier this month saw many officiators rewarded for their efforts this season.

Rising umpire Damian Irvin said his efforts were especially validated when he was awarded the BFUA’s Golden Whistle Award.

“It was a great honour,” he said. “Obviously, many great umpires before me have got the award and there were many deserving recipients on the night.

“It means Billy, our coach, has a lot of faith in me. The award goes to a young, up-and-coming umpire so it gives me faith the coaches believe I have what it takes to make it to the next level.

“To top off the award with the Maryborough senior grand final as well was a very humbling and special moment.”

Irvin has been umpiring since 2017, taking after his brother Hamish who started the year prior, and before that his dad Brent who umpired for the AFL when it was the Victorian Football League.

This season has marked Irvin’s first year umpiring a senior game every week.

He followed up his award by taking part throughout this week in the V/Line Cup in Shepparton with his brother, with the siblings even overseeing a game together on Tuesday.

Irvin said his current goal is to continue following in his dad’s footsteps.

“The ultimate goal would be to umpire an AFL game but right now I want to see how far I can take it,” he said.

“Dad was there on presentation night and he was very proud when I went and talked to him after and my brother called me afterwards.

“Playing the V/Line Cup, it’s been a real eyeopener umpiring with different people from different associations and seeing how they do it.”