On Saturday, October 6th, the normally sun burnt expanses of the APY Lands became a flourishing field of colour as the inconspicuous community of Fregon played host to the inaugural SANFL Far North-West Sports League Grand Final day ceremonies.

It wasn’t just the grand finale to the Lands’ first structured football league, but the culmination of months of committed preparations between two parties with a common culture. The culture of Australian Football.

And whilst the development of the game itself has taken giant leaps in the area as a direct result of the SANFL’s involvement, it has also taken small but significant steps in regards to its umpiring.

With the assistance of a number of obliging locals, the SANFL Umpiring Department has supported the venture from its inception - and anticipates building upon the solid foundations laid down over the past month.

“What we’ve achieved to date, is to impart an understanding within the Lands’ communities of the importance umpiring plays in developing the quality of the game and how it is played.” states SANFL Umpiring Development Manager, Don Cooper, who has made two visits in recent times to help educate the teams – and importantly their umpires.

“The communities have certainly welcomed the initiative to introduce qualified umpires into their games and from the feedback we have received, it has made a positive difference – particularly with regards to the players discipline.”

“The challenge is now there for us to develop the local umpires through a structured program, with a view to them ultimately becoming more self- sufficient. There are a number of well respected community members who have embraced the umpiring side of the game and we’re looking forward to enhancing their skills over time.”

Joining Don for the Grand Final day matches were two Goolwa based umpires, Bryn Bridges and Leigh Pope. Both have umpired in the state’s Great Southern Football League and welcomed the chance to expand their horizons through the opportunity of a lifetime. Whilst it was Bryn’s second excursion to the region, it was the first time Leigh had taken his umpiring to another frontier.

“What these guys took out of the experience was overwhelming.” Don declares, continuing, “It really is football in its truest form. Fast, fierce and full of passion. A completely different type of game from what they are used to – and a great test of their capacity to adapt to such a varied style of game. But a task they achieved with great distinction.”

And whilst the three men in yellow shared quite a deal of experience, two new faces emerged on the umpiring scene at opposite ends of the ground for the Grand Final played out between arch rivals, Amata and Mimili.

The SANFL’s Finance Manager, Steven Grant and the Advertiser’s chief football writer Michelangelo Rucci donned lab coats and proceeded to take on arguably the most responsible assignment of the game. But what faced them was nowhere near as daunting as what was behind them. Two fanatical communities armed with sheer parochialism for their respective communities – and the odd spear!!

They might have started as two inexperienced umpires with merely a zestful yearning to become engulfed in the atmosphere of the Land’s biggest ever game, but by the end of a most riveting display of football, had transformed into masters of the goal line - and freestyle champions of the calico salute.

And in doing so, they had embraced the true spirit of this inclusive competition.

Now, with the help of the SANFL’s new field officers in the region, the hunt is on to source those within the Lands willing to take up the umpiring challenge and work with the League’s umpiring development team toward the next stage of their development.