Big Rivers Football League set to celebrate Umpiring Round, and honour Samantha Clarke’s milestone of 100 games in charge

UMPIRING Round returns during Week 4 of the Big Rivers Football League with a series of activations to recognise the dedication shown by the BRFL umpiring squad – and to celebrate the contribution made by umpires such as Samantha Clarke.

UMPIRING Round returns during Week 4 of the Big Rivers Football League with a series of activations to recognise the dedication shown by the BRFL umpiring squad – and to celebrate the contribution made by umpires such as Samantha Clarke.

A BRFL umpire and player, Clarke began her umpiring career in South Australia from the age of 14. She said she started umpiring due to a complete lack of female junior footy teams to play in.

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“I started umpiring in Adelaide because I was too young to play. It’s a different story these days but I’m grateful to have started umpiring as I can now do both,” she said.

Clarke relocated to the Northern Territory, which has the highest female umpiring participation rate in the country, from South Australia almost five years ago. She now umpires various grades in the BRFL, while playing for and managing the women’s Katherine South Crocs team.

In the NTFL, Clarke plays for the Nightcliff Tigers while also umpiring in the Division 1 men’s competition.

“I really enjoy umpiring and the Katherine region is such a great place to do it. It is a small place which makes it easy to get to know the players and the community,” she said.

“I love being involved in the footy community generally. As soon as you umpire it makes it easy to keep up with the league and the players – it is always such a great game to watch in community in Katherine.”

AFLNT umpiring co-ordinator Samuel Cunningham said Clarke was a valuable part of the Territory umpiring squad, and he is thrilled to see her reach her major 100-game milestone.

“It’s awesome to see such a great person as part of our umpiring squad and reaching milestones like this,” he said.

“When Sam’s not playing, she consistently puts her hand up to umpire senior men’s football in the BRFL and is always happy to help and get involved.

“As well as being an enthusiastic umpire, Sam has also been actively involved on the Katherine Umpires Association board as the vice-president in previous years.”

As part of the BRFL Umpiring Round, activations across the weekend include bounce and boundary throw-in competitions, NTFL Umpiring Association president coin tosses and special umpire cameos from each club.