Hayden Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Hayden Daniel Kennedy is an Australian rules football
field umpire in the Australian Football League
(AFL) and is also a teacher at St Bernard's College Essendon. He has umpired 495 career games in the AFL.
One of the veterans on the umpire circuit, Kennedy has umpired five AFL Grand Final
s since debuting in the late 1980s.
Hayden announced his retirement on 10 August 2011 after umpiring 495 games at the highest level.
and a maths teacher.
Kennedy commenced a career as an umpire in the Essendon District Football League
in 1983. After one season there, he was recruited into the VFL cadets squad.
In 1986, Hayden Kennedy umpired the under 19 VFL
grand final, and by 1987 had been promoted to the senior list. At this level he umpired the VFL reserves and country football matches.
umpiring debut in 1988, officiating a game between North Melbourne
and Carlton
. Kennedy’s partner on the day was fellow 300 game umpire Peter Cameron.
In the 1995 AFL season, Kennedy umpired in all 21 weeks of Home and Away games, and a further 4 weeks of finals. He was the first umpire to achieve this in 38 years, and the 11th field umpire to do so.
He umpired his first AFL Grand Final in 1995. The game, involving Carlton and Geelong
, was shared with boundary umpire Allan Cook. Both Kennedy and Cook had been field umpires together on the cadet squad at the beginnings of their careers and both reached the pinnacle of achievement on the same day having followed very different paths.
Kennedy continued his dominance at the top of the AFL umpiring ranks, umpiring Grand Finals in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2003 as well as taking part in every finals series. Kennedy has also obtained many other prestige appointments and honours including three State of Origin appointments and being named All Australian Umpire in 1997. He attained Life Membership of the AFL Umpires’ Association in 1993.
After reaching the milestone of 300 games in 2002, he qualified for a life membership with the AFL. At that stage he had umpired 294 premiership season games, as well as 22 pre-season matches and three State of Origin
games.
In 2006 he umpired the controversial match between St Kilda and Fremantle
, along with Matthew Nicholls
and Michael Vozzo
.
He umpired his 400th match on 8 June 2007 between Essendon versus West Coast
at Telstra Dome
. and was quickly catching Rowan Sawers
in the umpiring record books.
He finally surpassed his former colleague on 8 September 2007 when he umpired in the first elimination final between Hawthorn and Adelaide
at the Telstra Dome
to break the 410 game record held by Sawers.
Kennedy achieved yet another umpiring honour when he was appointed one of four field umpires to officiate in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
played on 10 May 2008 at the MCG
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
field umpire in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL) and is also a teacher at St Bernard's College Essendon. He has umpired 495 career games in the AFL.
One of the veterans on the umpire circuit, Kennedy has umpired five AFL Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
s since debuting in the late 1980s.
Hayden announced his retirement on 10 August 2011 after umpiring 495 games at the highest level.
Early career
Kennedy was a very promising junior footballer with St Christophers Football Club in the Oak Park Junior Football League, a club which also produced AFL legends Simon and Justin Madden. Kennedy completed his secondary schooling at St Bernard's College Essendon where he now currently teaches as a Physical EducationPhysical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
and a maths teacher.
Kennedy commenced a career as an umpire in the Essendon District Football League
Essendon District Football League
The Essendon District Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the north-west suburbs of Melbourne, which was established in 1930.The EDFL consists of 24 senior clubs, 10 clubs in A Grade and 14 clubs in B Grade...
in 1983. After one season there, he was recruited into the VFL cadets squad.
In 1986, Hayden Kennedy umpired the under 19 VFL
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
grand final, and by 1987 had been promoted to the senior list. At this level he umpired the VFL reserves and country football matches.
Career in the Australian Football League
Kennedy had his Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
umpiring debut in 1988, officiating a game between North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
and Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
. Kennedy’s partner on the day was fellow 300 game umpire Peter Cameron.
In the 1995 AFL season, Kennedy umpired in all 21 weeks of Home and Away games, and a further 4 weeks of finals. He was the first umpire to achieve this in 38 years, and the 11th field umpire to do so.
He umpired his first AFL Grand Final in 1995. The game, involving Carlton and Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
, was shared with boundary umpire Allan Cook. Both Kennedy and Cook had been field umpires together on the cadet squad at the beginnings of their careers and both reached the pinnacle of achievement on the same day having followed very different paths.
Kennedy continued his dominance at the top of the AFL umpiring ranks, umpiring Grand Finals in 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2003 as well as taking part in every finals series. Kennedy has also obtained many other prestige appointments and honours including three State of Origin appointments and being named All Australian Umpire in 1997. He attained Life Membership of the AFL Umpires’ Association in 1993.
After reaching the milestone of 300 games in 2002, he qualified for a life membership with the AFL. At that stage he had umpired 294 premiership season games, as well as 22 pre-season matches and three State of Origin
State of Origin
State of Origin is the name used in Australia for one existing sporting event which involves domestic representative teams. The term, when used in isolation, usually refers to rugby league football, and occassionally Australian Football matches, in which players are selected for the Australian...
games.
In 2006 he umpired the controversial match between St Kilda and Fremantle
AFL siren controversy, 2006
The AFL siren controversy of 2006 surrounded the conclusion and result of an Australian rules football match played on 30 April 2006 during Round 5 of the Australian Football League's 2006 season...
, along with Matthew Nicholls
Matthew Nicholls
Mathew Nicholls is an Australian rules football field umpire in the Australian Football League. He has umpired 124 career games in the AFL.Nicholls was the umpire at the centre of Sirengate in 2006 when he failed to acknowledge the final siren in an AFL football match, resulting in the AFL deciding...
and Michael Vozzo
Michael Vozzo
Michael 'Billy' Vozzo is an Australian rules football field umpire in the Australian Football League. He has umpired 188 career games in the AFL....
.
He umpired his 400th match on 8 June 2007 between Essendon versus West Coast
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
at Telstra Dome
Telstra Dome
Docklands Stadium is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment stadium in the Docklands precinct of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
. and was quickly catching Rowan Sawers
Rowan Sawers
Rowan Sawers is a former Australian rules football umpire and current Australian Football League Umpires' Coach.Until Hayden Kennedy surpassed his record on 8 September 2007, no VFL/AFL umpire had officiated more games than Sawers, whose career spanned two decades and 410 matches...
in the umpiring record books.
He finally surpassed his former colleague on 8 September 2007 when he umpired in the first elimination final between Hawthorn and Adelaide
Adelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
at the Telstra Dome
Telstra Dome
Docklands Stadium is a multi-purpose sports and entertainment stadium in the Docklands precinct of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
to break the 410 game record held by Sawers.
Kennedy achieved yet another umpiring honour when he was appointed one of four field umpires to officiate in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match
The AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match was a one-off all-star game between two representative sides organised by the Australian Football League to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Australian rules football....
played on 10 May 2008 at the MCG
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
.