AFL General Manager Football Operations Mark Evans today announced Peter Schwab had been appointed AFL National Umpiring Director, to replace Wayne Campbell.
Mr Evans said he was delighted to be able appoint Schwab to the role, with his broad experience across so many parts of the football landscape covering his career as a triple premiership player with Hawthorn, an earlier stint as umpiring director in 1998-99, senior coach with Hawthorn and a number of roles across coaching and football administration, most recently at the Brisbane Lions.
Schwab will be responsible for both the development of the senior AFL umpiring panel and the overall strategy and expansion for umpiring at all levels of the game nationally, replacing Campbell who resigned mid-season to take up a position with the GWS Giants.
Former St Kilda captain and Collingwood premiership player Luke Ball filled the role on an interim basis through the second half of the 2016 season, after Campbell’s departure, and Evans said he would return to his position within the football operations department with responsibilities across umpiring, Laws and operations.
Schwab, 56, played 171 games for the Hawks between 1980-91, being part of premierships in 1983, 1986 and 1988 before coaching the club for five seasons from 2000-04. He was also Richmond reserves coach from 1992-94 and an assistant coach at Hawthorn in 1996-97.
'Peter is highly-regarded across the football industry as a high-class achiever in every role he has undertaken, and a person with extremely strong values and standards,' Mr Evans said.
'He was a fine contributor in a powerful era on-field for the Hawthorn Football Club and, since his retirement as a player, he has sought to build his knowledge-base across all areas of football coaching and administration.
'The AFL is delighted Peter has accepted this role as his experience, including a previous time as head of umpiring, will be invaluable for all our umpires.
Peter will take up his role when the AFL offices re-open in January 2017.
