Draft:Gavin Dore

Gavin Dore is a former Australian rules football umpire who umpired 302 AFL games, including the 1996 AFL Grand Final. His AFL career spanned 19 years—from 1986–2004—although it is 26 years if you include his semi-professional career.

Umpiring career
Gavin Dore commenced his journey in Australian rules football umpiring in 1979 when he joined the West Gippsland Umpires’ Association at the age of 18. His progression led him to the VFL Reserve Grade in 1982, and he earned a promotion to the senior list in 1984. Dore's debut in the VFL came in 1986, marking the beginning of his career as an umpire.

Following his debut, Dore officiated in multiple home-and-away matches during the 1987 season, including his first finals appearance during the Qualifying Final. Unfortunately, an arm injury in the summer of 1987–1988 led to a significant interruption in his umpiring career. It wasn't until 1990 that Dore returned to officiate in the Australian Football League seniors.

Despite setbacks in 1992, Dore made a comeback in 1993, officiating in an Elimination Final and beginning a period of continued success. He went on to officiate in finals matches in 1994 and 1995. In 1996, during the AFL's Centenary Year, Dore received the prestigious appointment to officiate in the Centenary Grand Final more than a decade after his promotion to the VFL/AFL. This year was also notable for his decision to take a year off from work to focus on umpiring and further his education with a Dip Ed degree.

Since his Centenary Grand Final appearance, Dore's career saw a consistent run of form with no major injuries, officiating an average of twenty-two matches per year. He also had the opportunity to officiate in two State of Origin matches and represent his country in overseas exhibition matches on four occasions.

Dore took great pride in his fellow umpires and considered the 2004 list to be a close-knit group that supported each other both on and off the field. His colleague Stuart Wenn described him as a quiet achiever with a personable demeanour, highly regarded by the football community. Being held in such high esteem by colleagues and the broader football community was a fitting tribute to Gavin Dore's enduring legacy as an AFL umpire.

Personal Life
Throughout his nearly 19-year career, Dore drew inspiration from various mentors and colleagues, including Rob Schreiber, John Sutcliffe, Don Casey, Bill Deller, Jeff Crouch, Kevin Smith, Glenn James, Ian Robinson, David Levens, Rowan Sawers, Peter Schwab, and Jeff Gieschen. He also expressed gratitude for the support of his wife Jenny and children Cameron, Rebecca, Nicholas, and Thomas. Cameron Dore is also an AFL umpire, starting his AFL career in 2019 and notching up 84 games as of April 12, 2024.

Challenges and Philosophical Outlook
In a setback during the final stretch of his career, Dore was involved in a bike accident during training, resulting in an injury that sidelined him for most of the season. Despite the challenges he faced, Dore maintained a philosophical perspective, emphasising the importance of hard work, seeking advice, and self-belief in overcoming obstacles.

Recognition and Legacy
In 1993, Dore received AFLUA Life Membership for his contributions to the field of umpiring. Dore reached the milestone of 300 matches, which qualified him for Life Membership of the AFL for field umpires. More deeply appreciated the recognition, viewing it as a testament to the years of hard work and dedication he had put into the game.