THE next time you roar “Ball!” at the footy, there’s a chance the man answering your pleas for a free kick will be Brendan Hosking.
The 22-year-old former Essendon District Football League junior and umpire is on the verge of his AFL debut after earning the call-up to the national panel of AFL umpires.
Hosking sat on the boundary for his third AFL game as an emergency umpire at the North Melbourne-GWS Giants match in Tasmania on Sunday.
After officiating in last year’s VFL grand final and a number of NAB Cup matches during the AFL preseason, Hosking is eagerly anticipating his first assignment to be one of the three field umpires in a home and away game.
Hosking’s fitness and running ability have put him on the fast track to taking control of AFL games.
After three years in the VFL his impressive training and 5km time trials caught the eye of AFL umpires director Jeff Gieschen.
The call-up to the highest level marks a steady rise for Hosking from boundary umpire in the EDFL in 2003, to field umpire in 2005, to the VFL development squad in 2009.
He started out as a footballer in under-10s at Taylors Lakes, playing and umpiring in tandem until he finished his under-16s top-age year at Keilor.
“I was a bit smaller than other guys and getting knocked around in under-16s,” Hosking said.
“I decided to concentrate on my umpiring rather than keep playing [under-18s] footy and get knocked out of every game.
“I love the game and miss playing it from time to time.
“To still be a part of the game is really good and the highest level, it’s unreal.”
Hosking won the 2008 golden whistle in the EDFL before being invited to the VFL development squad, going on to officiate a number of senior games through the 2009-11 seasons.
His first televised VFL game was a big landmark in realising what it would take to cut it at a higher level.
“I remember umpiring really poorly in my third senior VFL game.
“It was a TV game and it was a big eye opener that I had to step it up and be the best I can.
“I was still quite young and lacked a bit of confidence, but due to the coaching I got through the VFL with Kevin Mitchell and Adam Davis … those two guys helped me with a lot of things.”
-Teo Pellizzeri
