At just 15 years-old, Jack Cruse is forging pathways for the next generation of emerging umpires in the Goldfields Football League that has drawn accolades locally and in Perth.

Cruse launched his officiating career last year in the local junior competition as a field umpire before moving up to the seniors as a goal umpire.

Since then, he has embraced all aspects of what’s required to be a top umpire and the hard work paid off when he was appointed to the umpiring panel for last week’s country championships in Perth.

“I never had any intentions last year of doing seniors, but I goal umpired for the second half of last season and luckily enough, I got to do two grand finals goal umpiring, colts and reserves,” he said.

“This year, I made the transition to combine both and did my first senior game as a field umpire in round one of the women’s (competition).

“From there, I’ve done the women’s, colts and reserves, and came in for a half of a league game when one of the umpires suffered a calf strain.

“Hopefully I’ll get that full league game in the next week or two.”

Before taking up umpiring, Cruse played junior football for Boulder.

“I wasn’t much of a star, outside just playing my role,” he said.

“Last year, they (the GFL) launched a junior (umpiring) program that was great for me because I just love my footy.

“I wanted to try something that would keep my involved, so I umpired the junior season, got the call-up to seniors and it just went from there.

“It’s great, and I don’t think I could ever not umpire now — I enjoy the mate ship, but before last season I would never have tipped that I’d ever umpire a senior game.”

They say that field umpiring is the toughest job in football, but the teenager is unfazed.

“I understand that we sometimes won’t make the right calls, and people have opinions,” Cruse said.

“But we’re just doing our job and it doesn’t affect how I’m going to see the game, or how I’m going to call it and I’ll call it as I see it.”

Cruse said that umpiring at the country championships had been invaluable for his development.

“Field umpiring the colts (in Perth) was interesting because I’d never been part of the three-umpire system to that higher standard that was expected,” he said.

“Here (in the GFL), we mainly run with two umpires, and three umpires every now and then.

“And we had match-day coaches (and) getting feedback at each break and after games.

“I got a lot out of that and found my feet a bit more in the second game.

“I was pleased with how I went — it’s all about backing yourself, week-in and week-out, and that’s what I did.”