JMAC makes VFL Senior Squad

Details

Published on Saturday, 01 April 2017 23:22

Written by Michael O'Keeffe

It was announced this week that 2015 Riddell Senior Grand Final Goal Umpire, Jordan McMillan, was appointed to the VFL Senior Umpiring Panel. I sat down with Jordan to find out about his journey. 

Well congratulations Jordan! A massive achievement. Let’s go back to the beginning. How did you get into umpiring? 

I started umpiring back as a club field umpire for an Under 12’s team back in 2009, throughout the day, I would also volunteer for other teams ] as either a boundary or goal umpire on the day.

Then in 2011 I took up offical umpires in the field with the BFL. In 2012 I moved to Geelong for a year to study and gave up umpiring for a year. When i moved back home, I took up field umpiring again with the Ballarat League, however a mate who I worked with at McDonalds mentioned to me that they needed goal umpires. I had always been keen on goal umpiring and loved the skill, so I took him up on his offer and went down and trained with the goal umpires.

That year I finished with an Under 16 Senior Grand Final. A quarter of the way through the 2014 season I joined Riddell Umpires and haven’t looked back since. Kevin McIntyre took me on and I got my first game in the Under 18’s that week. The following week I umpiring my first RDFL Senior Game at Kilmore, and as the season progressed into finals I was still umpiring seniors. I umpired the 18’s Prelim Final and was luck enough to finish the season with the Under 18’s Grand Final.

Season 2015 came around and I was given the opportunity on the VFL goal Umpires rookie squad, where we went down to the VFL once a month for training with listed VFL umpires to learn about what training and umpiring at state level was about. Throughout the 2015 season I continued to umpire well and towards the end of the season started to feel this could be my year. Come appointments night the nerves kicked in until my name was read out for the 2015 Senior Grand final with Matt Cusack.

So after that you were nominated for the VFL development squad? 

Yes after 31 senior games with the RDFL and a Grand Final, I started umpiring for the VFL in 2016. 

Every umpire has a story about a setback. Have you had any challenges in your time umpiring? 

I had a major setback was towards the end of 2016 when I fractured my humerus throwing a dodgeball that left me with a huge scar running just below my elbow to 3 quarters the way up my upper arm. I had 8 pins, 2 screws and a plate in my humerus. I was a month into my VFL pre season gradually losing weight and I knew I had more to lose if I was any chance of pushing for a senior spot . In 2017, for 8 weeks post fracture, I was unable to do any fitness activities. Much to my amazement, i continued to lose weight and when I eventually got the all clear to begin training again. I had very minimal moment at my elbow joint which left me very concerned that I might never be able to fully extend my arm again or even goal umpire. Through a fantastic physio at Footscray hospital I’ve gained 99% full extension in my arm again. 

So in you career so far, what are you most memorable moments?

My RDFL Grand Finals, VFL rookie squad, making the VFL development squad, and now making the senior VFL squad.

What are your goals for the future?

My overall goal now is to continue learning. It may sound silly, but there is always something new to learn when goal umpiring, so I want to take on as much feedback. My ultimate goal is to make the AFL list. 

What advice would you give to other umpires who want to reach the highest level? 

Take all feedback onboard, be it positive or constructive, be coachable, strive to always improve, ask questions, but most of all have fun

Well we are excited Jordan to see what happens next in your umpiring and thanks for having a chat with us. 

Thanks Michael