It’s the phone call every aspiring AFL Umpire wants to receive.

Lachlan Rayner, despite missing out on being elevated to the AFL Boundary Squad at the end of season 2015 was called on Friday 15 January and told, that as a result of Shane Jones’ retirement he would be promoted to the AFL list and expected at training the following Tuesday.

From there, Lachlan admits it has been a ‘bit surreal’. Whilst his first night of training was amazing, it felt a bit like he was attending AFL training as a VFL umpire like he did in 2015.”It doesn’t feel like I am on the list yet. After so many years of aspiring to become an AFL umpire, it happened so quickly and it hasn’t quite sunk in yet.”

Rayner during the 2015 VFL Grand Final

The achievement was made even more special considering the huge steps Rayner took after his 2014 campaign, which was a real building year for the boundary umpire. “The 2014 season was quite a step forward in my umpiring. I had settled into the senior panel on the Boundary list and I had finally started to understand and feel confident with the three-umpire system.

From there, the rest is history as they say, with the former VFUA Boundary Umpire Track Representative, having a stellar 2015 season, reaching the VFL Grand Final as well as being recognised as the Boundary Umpire of the Year. However, the disappointment of initially not gaining promotion did not cease his motivation to pursue his dream. “I was confident after the season that I would be given a spot (on the list), as far as I was aware, it was the first time no Victorian was given promotion in all my time at the VFL. Once the AFL list was finalised in December I was getting nervous.” He then turned to AFL Victoria Umpires’ Coach Cameron Nash and sought advice on any extras he could do to prepare for that big step to the AFL. “Cameron suggested I stay positive, train hard and not lose sight of my goals.”

He acknowledges the impact that AFL Victoria Boundary Coach Matthew Vitiritti has provided to his career, “Matthew has been outstanding. He is completely professional and you know exactly where you stand with him. He has been instrumental in my success at VFL level and I can’t thank him enough.” 

Moving forward for Lachlan, he told vfua.net that he would miss the VFL; “I would definitely have to say the friends and the culture of the VFL (is what I will miss most). I have been involved in a few different sports and nothing compares to what we have in the VFL. I would get to training 90 minutes before we started because it was a great place to be with people that are now some of my closest friends. I think that is what I will miss most.

He is now looking forward to what 2016 brings. “I am excited about the challenge ahead of me. I am starting at the bottom again and from there, there is only one way to go.”

Lachlan Rayner:
52 VFL Games
2015 umpire of the year
2015 VFL Grand Final Umpire
2015 VFUA Track Representative for the Senior Boundary squad
2015 John Russo Trophy winner.

Article compiled by Peter Kelly and Tim Carlos for vfua.net