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 speechless,” he said.
“I was so chuffed for a chance at this new beginning, and I can still feel that excitement for getting to training and things like that.
“It’s the greatest feeling. This has been my main goal and my dream for a while now.”
Van Heumen said while he had to choose between umpiring and playing football, the choice had been easy for him.
“I got into umpiring when I was about 13,” he said.
“I’ve been doing it consistently for about seven years now.
“I played football for a while, but even then, I was more a fan of the umpiring.
“A lot of people would say to me that I should just be playing footy instead, but I’d just tell them that umpiring was my passion. I absolutely love umpiring.
“I had a few moments where I thought I should maybe go back and give footy a go, but hearing the news that I’d been selected has really stopped me from ever thinking that again.”
Central Rivers field umpire coach Brent Howden said he had been helping Saxon prepare for the big lights of an AFL gig.
“I’ve given him a few challenges this year to show me that he wants to better himself and go further with his umpiring,” he said.
“He’s been ticking them off and now we are getting him noticed by the people higher up.
“This is the same as it is for footballers. When the young fellas go down and play for representative teams, to be noticed first off is a thrill, but to be selected is even better.”
Howden said he couldn’t convince Saxon to give central umpiring a go.
“I tried but couldn’t convince him to come across,” he said.
“Even though I believe he’s got the talent to be able to do it.
“He told me at the start of the year that he wanted to be running the boundary at the highest level.
“You’ve got to be a lot fitter when you do boundary umpiring, it’s a bit more about the mental side out in the middle, but you’ve got to cover a long distance on the boundary.”
Van Heumen said umpiring was a great way to gain confidence and resilience.
“I’d say to just give it a go,” he said.
“You can always improve.
“If you think you’re not good enough, you can just show up to training and have a bit of fun.
“Then one of the coaches will teach you how to throw, and the rules and everything, and once you’ve got that down you’re pretty much right.”
