Young West Aussie umpire following her dream to make the AFL
Lilly Spocter is clear-minded about where she wants to go with her umpiring.
The 16-year-old, recently judged the most outstanding umpire at the School Sport National Championships in Queensland, would 'like to go as far as I can.'
'AFL would be the dream but, yeah, taking it as it comes,' she said.
PerthNow caught up with the emerging talent at half-time of the Year 11-12 game between Quinns Bulls and Warwick Greenwood Knights in the West Perth football district on Sunday. Lilly Spocter prepares to throw the ball up. Credit: Justin Bianchini
Lilly's 'pretty good' at handling the on-field responsibility – 'I've done it for a long time now' – and finds umpiring the seniors 'pretty chill' but 'hard at the same time.'
'I just take it as it comes to be honest,' she said.
'I don't try to overthink anything.
'And just before the game you get in the mode that you're about to umpire, and other than that, you're just in the game.'
The Wanneroo Secondary College student is part of the AFL and WA Football-led National Women's Umpire Development Program.
She trains twice a week and is mentored by the WA Football Commission's umpiring clubs specialist and AFLW umpire Courtney Gibson. Lilly Spocter talks to players at three quarter-time. Credit: Justin Bainchini
She's also following in the footsteps of her favourite AFL umpire, former fellow West Perth district umpire Dan Johanson. She also likes AFL umpire Brett Rosebury and former ump 'Razor' Ray Chamberlain
Receiving the AS McLean Medal for the best umpire at the 15s national champs in Queensland was a thrill.
'When they announced my name, I was in complete shock, stood up, accepted the medal,' she said.
'I was sitting with all the umpires and the WA State girls and the boys were behind us. It was a pretty big cheer.'
She started umpiring several years ago when she saw an advertisement for it on the Facebook page of the club she played with, Wanneroo.
'I was like 'I like to run, I love the game of footy, so I'll give it a go',' she said before speaking about why she's so decisive as a referee.
'I think because I've just read the rule book and read the rules, watched so many games of footy, played it growing up,' she said.
'And the more games that you umpire, the more confident you get in your calls.' Lilly Spocter in command. Credit: Justin Bianchini
A favourite part of umpiring is 'making new friends and umpiring with people you've also never umpired with before'.
She's working on her ball-ups and practises the centre bounce for when it will be required in her officiating later.
Her mum Robyn described her daughter, who has also coached Little Athletics, as self-motivated.
'I think she just wants to be better,' she said. 'She just loves it (umpiring), lives and breathes it.'
The Bulls-Knights clash ends with a feisty last quarter. How did she think she went?
'Pretty good. It was a bit heated at the end, but it was a good game. So it was fun.'
Her advice to players on the field when there is a fight? Lilly Spocter in action in Queensland. Credit: WinkiPoP Media / WinkiPoP Media
'Just to separate, and just relax, especially if it was their free kick already, not to give it away so that they can keep the ball, not turn it over,' she said.
Abuse from the boundary?
'Honestly, I've learnt to just block it out, like I don't care. Or obviously you hear it, but I think the trick is to not take it in, and you know that you're right, and you just pay what you see, and that's all you can do.'
And how did she learn to read the play so well?
'Just by coaching. Yeah, a bunch of different coaches at West Perth. And then once I started in the PFL, that's where they really emphasise to read the play and then get on to the ball quicker.'
Upon leaving school she wants to run her umpiring alongside a career as a nurse, following her aunty and grandmother into nursing.
She has already started a Certificate IV in nursing at TAFE and says 'helping people' and the 'cool' nature of the job attracts her to the profession.
And anything else she wanted to tell the world about umpiring?
'Just to give it a go, right?' she said. 'It doesn't matter if you make the wrong call.
'You just trust yourself. And if you read the rules and you know what you're talking about, then that's all that matters.'
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News.com.au
an hour ago
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