O’Dea appointed as TSL / TSLW Umpiring Coordinator

AFL Tasmania has announced the appointment of Gerry O’Dea as TSL / TSLW Umpiring Coordinator. 

O’Dea has a rich background in sports administration, having worked for the West Australian Football Commission, WAFL club West Perth, Australian Sailing and most recently Cricket Tasmania as Match Officials Manager.

O’Dea will manage the TSL umpiring network and focus on the development of emerging umpire talent alongside umpire coaches Michael Kelly (Head Coach – Field), Terry Fellows (Assistant Coach – Field), Damon Marsh (Coach – Boundary), Mark Jackson (Coach – Boundary), Craig Geeves (Head Coach – Goal) and Andrew Ikin (Assistant Coach – Goal).

“I spent the first week introducing myself but the umpires and umpire coaches have been wonderful in embracing me. I think it helped that I came from Cricket Tasmania where I was in an umpiring and match officials role, so the transition has been quite smooth. I’m looking forward to working with the umpires this year.”

AFL Tasmania is hosting three ‘Come & Try’ sessions in Hobart, Penguin and Launceston over late January – early February, with AFL Life Members Ray Chamberlain and Simon Meredith both guest presenters at the Hobart session, imparting their extensive knowledge and experience onto the umpires of the future. .

The AFL has also confirmed the continuation of the ‘AFL Mates’ Program, with this now called the ‘High Performance Mentor Program’. Like last season, six Tasmanians will be selected to receive mentoring from a national umpire, with these umpires to be announced in March.