Nairn, Regan and Streeton celebrate significant umpiring milestones

Over the past four rounds three umpires have clocked up significant umpiring milestones, Brad Nairn (600 Games), Graham Regan (400 Games) and David Streeton (300 games).

The WAAFL congratulates Brad, Graham and David on their milestones.

Brad Nairn- 600 Games

Brad umpired his 600^th match in Round 1 Saturday 7 April in a B Grade League Match.

Brad started umpiring back in the 90’s for a mate as a club umpire, however once the club moved up a grade and the association started supplying them with umpires he joined the amateurs where he has been ever since.

He has had many memorable moments in umpiring over the years, what he enjoys the most is umpiring with good mates and servicing the game. He rates every game he umpires as significant however his first A grade game after being on the panel for a long period was very rewarding.

Brad said that “The one that stands out as a memorable moment for me would be umpiring my 500^th match with two umpires who I look up to and respect. Luckily, they were good to me on the day as I injured my calf at the first bounce”.

“I enjoy umpiring and being around the umpiring group is very rewarding and I have made some lifelong friends through umpiring”

Brad encourages any person who would like to get involved in umpiring to give it a go. “It is a good way to stay involved in the game we all love, and it keeps you fit”.

Graham Regan- 400 Games

Graham Regan celebrated 400 games in round three on Saturday 21 April when he took to the field to umpire the A Reserves match between North Beach and Fremantle CBC at Charles Riley Reserve.

Graham began field umpiring in England before starting with the WAAFL in 1992. In 2000 and 2003 he umpired the A Grade grand final between Fremantle CBC and North Fremantle which he describes as his fondest moment reaching the “pinnacle of WAAFL umpiring”.

He was the WAAFL State Team umpire in 2001 where he travelled to Victoria for the match. Graham was an umpire coach with the Claremont Juniors in 2005 and 2006 and has been a WAAFL match day assistant umpires’ coach since 2008.

Graham was made a life member of the Community Umpires’ Association in 2016.

(Graham above holding the football)

David umpired his 300^th game on Saturday 28 April in the B Grade League match between North Fremantle and Collegians.

David started umpiring in 1983 running A grade boundary for two years with his father who was a panel goal umpire.

He played approximately 290 games of amateur football from 1985 – 2008 for Maylands, Dianella Morley, Wagin and Ballajura, winning two premierships.

David was a club field umpire for Ballajura in 2009 and has been on the Senior Community Umpires Panel since 2010.

He has also been a committee member of the West Australian Senior Community Umpires Association since 2013.

In 2015 David was awarded the most improved senior community field umpire.

Over his 300 games of umpiring his most memorable moment was umpiring the B grade league grand final in 2016, with his dad in attendance, in which Wembley beat Whitfords by 3 points in a great game of football at Bassendean oval.

He also umpired the Women’s reserves grand final in 2014 which was a close fought two-point game.

He has umpired 11 Grand Finals including two as a boundary umpire.