Robert Hendrie

2011

Player 1966 - 1976/Umpire 1976 - 1988
Carlisle Amateur Football Club/WAAFL, WAFL, AFL

Our great Australian game would be nothing without the umpires and tonight’s nominee Rob Hendrie is one of our most decorated.

As a player he played 115 games with the Carlisle Amateur Football Club before taking up umpiring - a decision he made after being knocked unconscious in a scratch match in 1976. He umpired in the WA Amateur Football League for three seasons under the tutelage of the late George Meiers before joining the WAFL in 1979.

His career involved many country games, some Grand Finals, and even amateur games while on the WAFL’s panel of umpires. His love of the game saw him act as the Treasurer of the WAFL Umpires’ Association for four years and, in 1986, he took up goal umpiring with great success.

As a goal umpire Rob Hendrie officiated five WAFL Grand Finals as well as VFL and State of Origin games. In all he was goal umpire for 218 games, including 99 AFL matches, four of which were finals.

In 1994, Rob Hendrie was recognised by being invited to umpire at the London exhibition match between the West Coast Eagles and Adelaide at The Oval.

After retiring as an active goal umpire in 1998 Rob Hendrie was appointed as the AFL’s goal umpires’ coach for Western Australia in 2000 and 2001. His achievements were recognised when he was awarded Life Membership of the WAFL Umpires’ Association and then a Hall of Fame inductee to the WAFL Umpires’ Association.

A member of the WAFL 200 Club, Hendrie’s career was highlighted in 2002 when he was selected in the 1993-2002 WAFL Umpires Team of the Decade as a goal umpire.

Today, the Hendrie name continues in the umpiring ranks of the WAFL and AFL with both his sons officiating at the highest level. Rob himself continues to be involved with the game he loves operating as an AFL interchange steward.