This week we celebrate Anton Lewis’s 250th Senior Premier Division game.
Anton has become a stalwart of the Sydney AFL umpiring group and combines his on-field responsibilities with the duties of President of the New South Wales Australian Football Umpiring Association (NSWAFUA), umpire advocate and mentor.
The work that Anton does for the NSW umpiring group and the NSWAFUA is enormous and he continually strives for excellence in all that he does.
Before officiating in Sydney AFL, Anton umpired in the South Australia National Football League (SANFL) and at the highest level possible – AFL Seniors.
In addition to umpiring a number of AFL Senior games (many on some of the most well known grounds in the country) he has also won a significant number of umpiring awards.
He has won the NSW Umpires “Golden Whistle” Award – given to the best field umpire of any given year – on three (3) occasions, been awarded the NSW umpires “Best Umpire of the Year” and won many other titles including winning the annual NSW Umpires 100m sprint four (4) times.
Anton has a strong history of running and has competed in the 400m at the Stawell Athletics carnival held every year at Easter.
The NSWAFUA congratulates Anton and wishes him well in today’s game.
Profile
Name: Anton Lewis
Position: Field Umpire and President of the New South Wales Australian Football Umpires Association.
1. Who has influenced you most in umpiring?
I have had a number of different people influence me over the years through my involvement with the SANFL through to coming to Sydney in the early nineties with different coaches such as Keith Ogston, David Levens (AFL), Bill Deller and other coaches in Sydney. The biggest influence has come from a desire to do my best week in week out and not accept mediocre performances or appointments.
2. What is your motto to success?
You can only control what you have control over.
3. Whom do you most admire?
Tiger Woods, a very special athlete that does amazing things. As a golfer, I would love to be in single figures – almost there!
4. What has been you best football experience?
I would have to say umpiring AFL football at the homes of football in each state – MCG, Footy Park, Gabba and the SCG.
5. What has been you greatest achievement?
Round 1, 1996 season opener at the MCG between Richmond and Geelong. The buzz of round 1 at the MCG in front of 50,000 people is something that I will never forget.
6. What is your favourite book?
I tend to read a lot of sports books and especially golf books – currently reading Dave Peltz improving your short game.
7. What is your favourite viewing?
I’ve gotten into Masterchef recently as well as Iron chef, probably because I enjoy eating but am amazed at what these people can do.
8. What is your favourite destination?
Any golf course in a warm environment.
9. How would you describe yourself?
Opinionated!
10. What is you favourite place and time?
Any time I can sit back with friends and enjoy a good alcoholic beverage – which generally doesn’t happen during footy season.
11. How do you present yourself to the world?
I am just a normal person, like most other people.
12. What are you optimistic about?
Getting to a low single figure handicap and playing to it regularly.
13. What do you like to eat and drink?
I love a good curry (butter chicken or a duck curry) and a nice cold beer always helps wash most things down.
14. Greatest professional and personal breakthrough?
Making the AFL list back in 1996 and having a couple of almost perfect games at that level. Being able to walk off at that level knowing you did almost everything right is a wonderful feeling.
15. Any game day rituals or superstitions?
Get to the game in plenty of time and have a run around and plenty of stretching now that I am not as young as I once was!