One of Ballarat’s most decorated whistle-blowers has called time on his role as director of umpiring.
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Roger Le Grand has informed the Ballarat Football Umpires Association that he won’t be continuing in the position in 2019.
“I have enjoyed my time in the role immensely, however over the last couple months I have found it increasingly difficult to balance the demands of the position whilst juggling the state manager role at Go Transit and with three young kids at home,” Le Grand said of his decision to step down.
“I leave the role content that I believe the Ballarat group is in a good place. When I took over the group at the end of 2014 we had 212 running members with an average age of 43, today we have 319 umpires with an average age of 21.
“I am particularly proud of the growth in our female members which have risen from a handful of girls in 2014 to now having over 50.”
Le Grand said he hoped to continue his match day observing role at the VFL umpires in 2019, as well as remaining involved in umpiring “in other meaningful ways that don’t take up quite as much time”.
The 43-year-old is a highly decorated and respected umpire and umpire coach.
He is a multiple BFL umpire of the year winner and past Victoria Country field umpire of the year and coach of the year.
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