YOUNG Swan Hill football umpire Saxon Van Heumen is one step closer to his dream of running the boundary on the big stage.

The apprentice chef has been selected to join the AFL’s umpiring academy, which will see him prepare for officiating at AFL and AFLW levels.

Van Heumen, 19, said he received a text that told him he had been selected.

“When I got the message about it I was absolutely spe...