Luck Reaches A Legendary Milestone
When it comes to the world of umpiring in the AFL HCC, there is nothing that Darrel Luck hasn’t achieved. On the most important weekend of the 2020 AFL HCC season, a season like no other, Darrel will become the 2nd Umpire to officiate in 450 Matches, since the inception of the BDAFL in 2000.
Affectionately known as “Plucka” to his fellow umpires, Luck is the only umpire who has been active in every season of the BDAFL / AFLHCC, and has officiated in a record 339 Black Diamond Cup Matches (336 field, 3 goal), with 31 Black Diamond Cup Finals, which is the most Black Diamond Cup finals umpired in any discipline.
Darrel has been fortunate enough to have been involved in the first Black Diamond Cup Grand Final in 2000 and has officiated in a total of 8 Black Diamond Cup Grand Finals (2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2015, 2018), which makes him the most experienced Cup Grand Final umpire in the active group.
Luck’s other Grand Final appearances have been in the 2010 and 2011 Reserve Grade Grand Finals, 5 Black Diamond Plate Grand Finals (2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2019), 1 Black Diamond Shield (Second Division) Grand Final in 2014 and 2 Under 18’s Grand Finals (2008, 2009).
Darrel has been the recipient of many award over his career in umpiring. Luck won the NCCUA Umpire of the Year award on 3 occasions (2001, 2007, 2013), The Club Person of the Year on 3 occasions (2005, 2012, 2013) and the NCCUA Field Umpire of the Year twice (2007, 2013). He was the inaugural Presidents Award winner in 2015, as well as the winner of the Neville Turner Memorial Trophy for services to the NCCUA in 2019.
Luck was awarded Life Membership in 2006 and was given the honour of being in the inaugural class of the NCCUA Hall of Fame, in 2015. Last year, Darrel Luck was given the highest honour in the Hall of Fame class, the status of NCCUA Legend. He sits alongside John Sullivan and Neville Turner (deceased) as the only other two legends of the NCCUA.
Luck’s service to the NCCUA has been invaluable and the hallmark of his umpiring career. The NCCUA have been indebted to Darrel over his many years of service. Darrel has held the positions as Committee Member (2000, 2014, 2015, 2016), Umpires Coach / Coordinator (2000), Liaison Officer (2000, 2007-2012), Vice President (2005) and his most influential and important role of the NCCUA President (2006 – 2013). It was during his time as President, where the NCCUA and the BDAFL at the time were in multiple discussions over the conditions under which umpires officiated. Darrel’s expertise in negotiation, his skills in compromise and his tenacity, passion and love for the umpiring group and umpires in general, which see the NCCUA with the conditions we are lucky enough to umpire with today.
The NCCUA is indebted to Darrel’s dedication, love, support and leadership over the lifetime of the BDAFL / AFLHCC. Even today, Darrel is an invaluable mentor in our Black Diamond Cup Panel, giving advice, assisting the younger umpiring brigade and being one of the more relied upon umpires to officiate at the region’s top level of games. The younger crew coming through are lucky to have been given the opportunity to learn from one of the region’s greatest ever field umpires.
The NCCUA and all umpires in the region extend their heartfelt congratulations to Darrel Luck on the achievement which not many umpires in this region, let alone, umpiring, will achieve, 450 Senior Matches. To do this in a Grand Final, is even more special. We hope you have a great game, get through it safely and resist the temptation to bounce the footy as “Draino” would want you to do!
