Emma Stark smashes the NTFL’s youngest female league umpiring record by 347 days

Emma Stark is the youngest female NTFL field umpire in Premier League history after controlling the Buffaloes-Palmerston game.

Emma Stark is the youngest NTFL field umpire in the history of the Territory game at just 15 years, eight months and 15 days. Picture: Gerry Wood.

EMMA Stark is no stranger to challenges, particularly in the complex field of Australian football field umpiring where a myriad of new and old rules can test the best of them.

But the 15-year-old O’Loughlin College student has remained focused and poised, to the point she became the NTFL’s youngest ever female field umpire on Saturday night.

In only her third year of wearing the “fieldy’s” green shirt Stark was called in at late notice to take charge of Saturday night’s Buffaloes-Palmerston Premier League game at TIO Stadium.

The scheduled umpire called in sick two hours before the first bounce, field umpire’s boss Simon Walker telling Stark she was the replacement.

“Emma was with me in the coaches’ box when news came we were down a fieldy, so I decided Emma would take charge because she hadn’t had a run at that stage,’’ Walker said.

“We went with it and she did a fantastic job at 15 years of age, making her the youngest ever field umpire in the NTFL’s long history.’’

Stark admitted to a few nerves when told she would be part of the three-person panel controlling the Buffaloes-Magpies match.

“I was a bit nervous for a while until I realised I had two hours’ preparation, enough time to get myself ready for the (7pm) game,’’ she said.

“It was a lot different to the Women’s Premier League and Division 1, where the pace of the game and the need to make quick decisions are big priorities.

“But it was great out there, the other two umpires were very supportive where they guided and mentored me through the match without any major problems.’’

Stark’s mum was on hand to watch her daughter break all sorts of umpiring records in Premier League, first and foremost as the youngest of all time at 15 years, eight months and 15 days.

And what did Stark to do celebrate? She took charge of an U14 Division 1 clash less than a day later with AFL umpire Leigh Hausen as her mentor.