UMPIRE INDUCTEE
NTFUA/VFLUA/AFLUA, Boundary Umpire, 1997-2018
- Umpired 228 senior AFL matches, 2008-17
- Umpired 13 senior AFL finals matches, 2008-17
- Umpired 71 VFL matches, 1999-2014
- Umpired 4 TAC Cup matches, 1999-2000
- Umpired 32 TFL matches 1998-2000
- AFL Grand Final Boundary Umpire, 2017 (Richmond vs Adelaide)
- VFL Grand Final Boundary Umpire 2004, 2005, 2006
- AFL Umpires Association Life Member, 2017
Born in Launceston in 1983, Mitch Le Fevre commenced his career as a boundary umpire with the NTFUA in 1997, initially in small local competitions such as the Esk-Deloraine Association. Quickly identified as a promising talent, Le Fevre was soon umpiring senior NTFL and even TFL Statewide League games, and in 1999 his first major appointment came in the form of the first of four TAC Cup matches.
With the admission of the Tasmanian Devils to the VFL in 2001, Le Fevre began umpiring Devils games played in northern Tasmania, and later went on to umpire Devils games all across the state. His star continued to rise during this period, to the point that in 2004 he was selected to umpire the VFL Grand Final between Sandringham and Port Melbourne. Le Fevre was subsequently chosen to officiate in the 2005 and 2006 VFL deciders as well, the latter coming after he had decided to relocate to Victoria to more seriously pursue a career in umpiring.
Le Fevre’s move paid almost immediate dividends, and in 2007 he was appointed to the AFL’s Elite Panel. Due to make his senior AFL debut in Round 3 of that season, Le Fevre unfortunately sustained a serious stress fracture in his ankle, which ruled him out for the rest of the season. He finally got his opportunity in 2008, and his debut season was such a success that he was selected to run the boundary in two finals matches. He has since umpired more than 200 senior AFL matches over the past decade, the highlight coming in 2017 when he was selected to appear in his first Grand Final.
Le Fevre’s consummate professionalism has set him apart as one of Australia’s finest boundary umpires for many years. His contributions have been recognised recently with Life Membership of the AFL Umpires Association as well as the Murray Williams Shield, a prestigious peer-voted AFLUA award recognising on-field excellence and positive contributions to the umpiring fraternity overall.
