Brent Wallace, a prominent AFL umpire, provided a rare glimpse into the post-match discussions that take place among the officiating team. After every game, Wallace sits down with fellow umpires Nick Brown, Andrew Gianfagna, and Nick McGinness. As a team, they compare notes on individual performances and argue over key decisions like the prestigious, hotly contested Brownlow Medal votes. The significance of this meeting to their officiating philosophy is highlighted by the fact that it happens right after the match.
On the way out of a recent session, Wallace shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Channel 7’s cameras and commentator Brian Taylor. He cited the unique challenge umpires encounter with no post-game player statistics. On the hardest days through the process, he remarked, “There are days it’s just miserable for us. Then there are days that we have an incredibly easy day. A shortage of information has made their job all the more difficult. Still, they’re doing their best to provide fair and accurate assessments.
“We come straight in and lock away the room and get straight into the Brownlow, that’s the first thing we like to lock away, make sure it’s done and dusted,” Wallace noted. That promise to fair and complete review signals the umpires’ commitment to be the best at their craft. Along the way, they join forces to listen to and dissect every single down of every single player from each team’s game. Then, they ensure that each dimension is thoughtfully addressed.
We ask them to self-evaluate, and feedback from coach Bryan Sheehan is an essential element of their post-game reviews. Wallace explained, “He comes in and gives us a bit of feedback on how the game went, if there was any trends we need to watch as part of our review and what we need to do over the next couple of days to review the game.” Similar guidance provides the umpires feedback on how to tweak their mechanics and make them more effective at their craft.
Umpires come under fire when players make contact with fans during games. Wallace recognized that they go to great lengths to miss players. “We try to do everything we can to clear that space and sometimes they get caught up in it,” he said. He added, “Sometimes it’s just wrong place, wrong time,” referring to incidents such as Jake Stringer’s contact with umpire Nick Brown after a ball-up during a match.
To ensure the fairness of the game, the crew of four umpires works tirelessly together. Wallace emphasized the importance of teamwork: “The great thing is we have the four of us and we can work together to get the right outcome.” This trusted partnership assists them in the most difficult times and provides the necessary equitable officiating.
Umpire Brent Wallace’s perspective offers a clear look at the behind-the-scenes dynamics that guide officiating in the AFL. Umpires are always trying to catch up with the moving goal post of their position’s expectations. They are passionate about continuing to improve their practices while ensuring the game remains true to its rich traditions.
