THE MCG is about as far as you can get from the Perth District, but Perth District Green Shirt Umpire Cameron Peggs will get to see it up close, after winning a chance to umpire an Auskick game at half-time of the 2011 AFL Grand Final.

All nine junior districts in WA were asked to nominate their best Green Shirt umpire, with a winner drawn randomly from the nominees. 

Peggs started umpiring in the Perth District towards the end of the 2010 season. He returned in 2011, where his coaches have been impressed with his development and willingness to learn, leading to his nomination by the district for the grand final prize draw.

Demons District Umpiring Manager Daniel Gibbons said Peggs had participated in the Green Shirt program for a year-and-a-half and proved to be a consistent umpire who thrived on new challenges.

“This is why we nominated him for the draw. We are thrilled for him that he has won the opportunity to umpire on grand final day,” Gibbons said.

Peggs was understandably excited to have won the prize. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and I can’t wait to be out there. I have really enjoyed my umpiring, especially when I have been given the chance to test myself at the higher age groups,” he said.

When asked his thoughts about being a Green Shirt Umpire, he replied: “It has been great fun being part of the Green Shirt Program, I think everyone should give it a go.”

Junior Community Umpire Manager Paul Pitchers had the enjoyable task of phoning Peggs to tell him he had won the prize. “I had to tell him twice, he didn’t believe me first time” Pitchers said.

“It is great that the AFL supports the program by presenting an opportunity like this to a Green Shirt umpire, and I, on behalf of WAFC Umpiring, want to wish Cameron all the best for the big day.”

The AFL’s Umpire Mentoring Program (Green Shirts) is an education and development program that aims to use experienced umpires to mentor new and inexperienced umpires.

The UMP is now in its sixth year and is a national program that will engage around 1300 Green Shirt umpires nationally along with over 400 mentors.

Article courtesy of the Football Budget