Riddell District Football League

“Girls in umpiring”

The increase of umpires in the RDFL this season has been largely thanks to more girls joining the ranks. This week we catch up with some new girls who have joined the association this season who represent the bright future of umpires in the RDFL.

Name: Holly Rymer
Age: 14
School: Gisborne Secondary College,
What discipline (area) of umpiring?
Boundary,
Why did you get into umpiring? Good pay :)
When did you start? The start of this year,
What do you remember most about your
first game and where was it? I ran into a
player in the first few minutes,
What has been the funniest or favourite
moment at a game? At Macedon when this
guy yells out when his going for goal 'look a
spotted leopard!'
Worst? At Macedon when it practical snowed,
Have any brothers who play football? One,
What do you love most about it? The new
friends i made and just it in general,
Who are your best friends around the
Association? I have a few, but proberly the
people who actually go to training, Casey,
Jason and Billy. But everyone there is pretty
nice.
Do the players look after you on the field?
Haha, most the time,
Would you give any other areas of umpiring
a go? Yeah, I want to do field next year,
Involved in any other sport? Netball,
Goals for the remainder of the year with
umpiring? To umpire with Casey :) (they’re
both doing the Lancefield Reserves today)
Who gives you the best and worst advice?
Richard and Eric, haha,

What discipline (area) of umpiring? Boundary
Why did you get into umpiring? Money :P, its
better pay than working at a pizza shop or
Maccas
When did you start? This year
What do you remember most about your
first game and where was it? My first game
was at Woodend and they were playing
against Lancefield. The thing that I remember
most is that I almost died running the whole
side of the boundary by myself
What has been the funniest or favourite
moment at a game? Richard wanting to take
photos of my sister and I wearing our leggings
underneath our shorts and socks at
Woodend :]
Worst? Running through the mud patch on
the Riddles Creek Football Ground
Have any brothers who play football? Yeah,
Josh, he plays for Sunbury Lions 16 A's
What do you love most about it? Checking
out the football players
Who are your best friends around the
Association? Holly, Casey and Kirsten
Do the players look after you on the field?
Depends on who I’m umpiring, the reserves
look after me but the under 18's don’t care
Would you give any other areas of umpiring
a go? Yeah, maybe goals
Involved in any other sport? Yeah, Soccer and
Basketball
Goals for the remainder of the year with
umpiring? Able to run 2 whole laps at training
without stopping to walk
Who gives you the best and worst advice?
Browny, Eric and Richard

Umpires Appointments – Subject to change
Macedon v Broadford
Under 18s- M MacFarlane, L Werrett, T Hildebrand A McFarlane, Shilling, Leetet
Reserves – P Burns, G MacFarlane, B Mundy J Allan, Leetet, Shilling
Seniors – I Semmens, R Noble, M Rhodes M Kent, Connell, Bretag

Lancefield v Diggers Rest
Under 18s –P Plowman, C Yeend , C Hoey J Hoey, Pizaro, S Hume
Reserves –J Weston, S Sheahan, H Rymer C Cataldo, S Hume, Pizaro
Seniors- L McInerney, J Page, A Rhodes, L Moore D Quirk, Tingiri, Adamson
Kilmore v Woodend/Hesket
Under 18s – E Paxton, J Fitzpatrick, D Humm K McMillan, Lynch, Matthews
Reserves – T Paxton, E Paxton, D Humm C Arnold, Cusack, Lynch
Seniors –C Black, S Lawrence, A Millane S McKenzie,Matthews, Cusack
Melton Centrals v Riddell
Under 18s – Rolling Meadows v Riddell – J Wood, J Fabriek, L Johnson B Rhodes, C Wakeling,
McIntyre
Reserves – R Lall-Cafini B West, D Hindell C Hobbins, Cooney, C Wakeling
Seniors – M Brown, P Ross, S Jaunkalns T Cusack, McIntyre, Cooney
Rockbank v Sunbury Kangaroos
Under 18s – G Kaiser, T Casson, K Lanyon Jacinta Lanyon, Power, Carter
Reserves – T Casson, T Rath, J Binek Josh Lanyon, Turkan, Power
Seniors – D Connell, R Semmens B Binek S Binek,Carter, Turkan
Wallan v Romsey
Reserves – P Phillips, D Hewitt, H Phillips C Bray, O’Connor, Andrews
Seniors – M O’Keeffe, M Jessep, J Butler K Parkinson, O’Connor, Andrews

Pics –
*Senior goal umpire of more than 350 games Lita Cooney is in prime position in the Macedon v
Kilmore senior match earlier this year.
* Some of our young female umpires (L-R) Jacinta Lanyon, Casey Cataldo, Holly Rymer and Kristen
Lanyon who represent the future of the association.

Umpires Appointments – Subject to Change

Wallan v Melton Centrals

Reserves - S Sheahan, P Burns, K.McMillan C.Hobbins, Taylor, Power
Seniors – C Stead, R Noble, A.Millane J.Ryan, Power, Taylor

Broadford v Riddell
U18s – T Casson, J Weston, C.Cataldo A.McFarlane, Leetet, Carter
Reserves – T Rath, T Casson, H.Rymer T.Hildebrand, Wakeling, Leetet
Seniors – J Page, C Black, T.Cusack D.Hindell, Carter, Leetet

Diggers Rest v Kilmore
U18s –L McInerney, G Kaiser, B.Mitchell B.Rhodes, Cooney, Buttigieg
Reserves – P Phillips, G McFarlene, D.Humm D.Quirk, Connell, Cooney
Seniors – R Semmens, M Brown, J.Wilson G.Carpanzano , Buttigieg, Connell

Macedon v Lancefield
U18s – P Plowman, T O’Dwyer, J.Binek B.Binek, S Hume, McClure
Reserves – L Werrett, C Yeend,   M.Kent S.Binek, McClure, S Hume
Seniors – M O’Keeffe, S Lawrence, J Deering, K.Parkinson J.Butler, Tingiri, Bretag

Romsey v Rockbank
U18s – E Paxton, J Fitzpatrick, B.Mundy, Matthews, Lynch
Reserves – T Paxton, E Paxton, K.Lanyon Jacinta Lanyon, Lynch, Matthews
Seniors – I Semmens, D Wardley, Josh Lanyon C.Bray, Hili, O’Connor

Sunb Kangaroos v Woodend/Hesket
U18s – R Lalli-Cafini, A Brown, J.Uwland R.Stewart, Shilling, Adamson
Reserves – A Brown, J Wood, J.Allen C.Arnold, McIntyre, Adamson
Seniors – M McFarlane, P Ross, A.Goudie L.Moore, Turkan, McIntyre

MILESTONES THIS WEEKEND
CONGRATULATIONS TO
Field - Anthony Rhodes 200
Goals - Tyler Andrews 100 & Bill Taylor 700

Picture – Anthony Rhodes is set to run in his 200th game this weekend with Adam Icely in
the Round 18 clash between Trentham and Newstead in the MCDFL. Photo: Chris Fleming
Elliott Midland Newspapers

He was a Mad dog on the field as a player and he is just as much the same as a field umpire and Tony ‘Mad dog’ O’Dwyer wouldn’t have it any either way. After an illustrious football career that spanned two clubs and more than 400 games, Tony has slotted into the field umpire mix as if he was born to be the man in charge.
Tony joined the Association after playing Reserves and Thirds football playing on the wing at Hadfield and half forward for Romsey, the latter were he donned the Redback colours for more than 150 games. His achievements as a footballer are quite remarkable having won the ‘Most Determined’ award with Hadsfield four years running, leading goal kicker at the Romsey and coaches award at Romsey while having a run in an Over 42s competition. He has tried his hand at coaching the Hadfield and Airport West Reserves and one wouldn’t put it beyond him if he lined up as a president of a club somewhere down the line. He had his first injury in football last year that now has him sport the orange fluros as an umpire.
“I got involved in umpiring because I injured my shoulder playing footy last year,” Tony said, “and as an umpire, you get to be more involved in the game than any player.”
The 50 something year old clearly doesn’t show his age on the field as he has an endless supply of grunt and energy to plough through games in the middle effortlessly, as indicated when he ran three consecutive junior games on a mud ridden track at Woodend.
“I definitely feel as though I could run another one, bring it on!” Tony said after the third game last Sunday.
His hard work on the field transpires with his busy lifestyle off the field where he often works as a truck driver in the day and then as a Casual Inserter for the Herald Sun by night. Many games on Saturday are done on the back of the back of a few hours sleep on Thursday night after working right through Friday night, heading home to get his gear and then straight to the game. This pregame superstition may add more emphasis to his nickname ‘Mad Dog’.
Tony is one of the true characters of our great game in the local area. At times, he can be so laid back that he would be in a coma before having throwing out a joke so fast with so much wit that it leaves you bamboozled. His highly contagious laugh brings the fun back into the footy which was evident when he ran out against his old side Romsey in just his second game where he talked about just going out, having a bit of fun and having beers with the boys afterwards. When it comes to umpiring the game in itself, the smile drops and the laugh becomes a mere echo as he takes control of the game with strong authority.
“The one thing I’d love to see in the future for umpires in the RDFL is for us to have numbers and our names on the back of our shirts,” Tony said.
If the wish comes true, don’t be surprised to hear spectators yelling ‘you’re a Mad Dog’ to Tony on the field as he prepares to launch the ball in the air to start a Grand Final.

The Riddell Umpires are looking for new umpires to join their panel for season 2010. Click below to get the details to join up, as well as some testimonies from current Riddell Umpires on the benefits of being a footy umpire.