WHEN Matt James went home after umpiring the 2002 AFL Grand Final, the second in an historic trio of premiership wins for Leigh Matthews’ marvellous Brisbane Lions team, his father turned his back and refused to talk to him.
James was part of a family whose blood ran black and white – passionate Collingwood supporters who were proud to be one-eyed fanatical followers of the Magpies, the team the Lions had beaten by just nine points on the last Saturday in September.
And his dad blamed James for the defeat.
Matt James, who umpired 206 AFL games, including 16 finals, and was named All-Australian umpire in 2004, was always a Collingwood supporter himself.
“If you grow up in Melbourne everyone barracks for one particular team,” he said, “and you’re always fanatical about it.
“When I umpired Collingwood games I guess I was always subconsciously tough on them,” he said. “I think that’s part of human nature – like a parent being harder on his own kid than any other child.”
Former AFL Grand Final umpire Matt James has found a happy home at Yamaha Queensland.
James retired at the age of 35, his umpiring career cut short by a persistent calf injury.
Given his background, it was no real surprise that he should then bob up as the umpire manager for AFL Cairns in Far North Queensland, or in sales for a company that manufactured team apparel or, later, as the operations manager of the fledgling Collingwood WAFL women’s footy squad. Or even as the founder of Recovery Lab, a chain of recovery and wellness studios he developed and later sold.
But it does seem something of a stretch that he should now be the Queensland sales manager for Yamaha golf carts – despite James’ insistence that it’s really just a natural progression.
“Umpiring is about conflict resolution and people management,” he said. “It also teaches you about getting along with people, paying attention to detail, and it opens a lot of doors.
“I’d always been a mad golfer, and when this opportunity came up I thought it was the perfect role,” he said. “Everything I’ve done has led to this role.”
James, who grew up in the inner Melbourne suburb of Ascot Vale, first played golf at the local Riverside Golf Club when he was seven. He was a good junior player, slicing his handicap to single figures before leaving the game behind to pursue his career in football.
He began umpiring in the old Footscray District League before spending five years as a VFL umpire. He was in charge of the 1997 and 1998 VFL Grand Finals before joining the AFL in 1999.
One of the more memorable incidents in an outstanding career came that same year in Perth when fellow umpire Peter Carey famously marked the ball during a match between Fremantle and St Kilda.
Jeff Gieschen, who was then AFL umpires manager, said James was a wonderful umpire.
“Everybody who watched Matthew at the top of his game between 2001 and 2005 would say he was probably the prototype of what AFL umpiring was all about – athletic, fantastic decision-maker, a brilliant bouncer and he had a terrific relationship with the players,” Gieschen said.
When James relocated to Brisbane he resumed his love affair with golf and joined Nudgee Golf Club. He quickly rediscovered his game and presently owns a handicap of 2.5.
Now 50, he plays Masters pennants for Nudgee, and was a member of this year’s successful Masters pennant squad.
When we spoke, James was about to begin his fourth week with Yamaha, a company he finds extraordinarily impressive.
“The first thing that blew me away was the staff,” he said. “They were very welcoming and everyone was so keen to help me.
“And all the clients I’ve met speak highly of the product. It’s not hard to sell such a quality product.”
He predicts a bright future for golf carts, suggesting more golfers will opt to ride rather than walk, seeking greater comfort and a quicker round. “Upwards of 500 people play on a Saturday at Nudgee,” he said. “Pace of play is becoming a real issue.”
Still a staunch Magpies supporter, James is disappointed Collingwood missed out on playing in this year’s AFL finals. “If they’d sneaked in, I reckon no team would have wanted to play them,” he said.