Rod Clarke has been a constant in Perth local footy for four decades. In 2026, the veteran umpire reaches a rare milestone — his 40th consecutive year officiating the game.

While many current players know Rod as a goal umpire, a role that has made up more than half of his 1,500-plus games, the first 20 years of his career were spent as a field umpire, where his reputation as a fair but strong umpire was built.

His love of the game was ignited when he was nine, when Rod’s older brother took him to the 1966 WAFL Grand Final between East Perth and Perth at Subiaco Oval. With a crowd of nearly 47,000, Rod admits he was swept up in the spectacle.

“I was caught up in the atmosphere… because, honestly, I was too small to see any of the action,” he said.

Playing senior football for Girrawheen as a ruckman, Rod was known as a peacemaker on the field, often bridging the gap between players and umpires. But as post-game recovery began to impact his work as a teacher, he made the call to step away from playing.

His liaison away from the game didn’t last long when, in 1987, a fateful advertisement in the local paper calling for field umpires jumped out at him. His ability to remain composed and make decisions while being chirped came naturally as a teacher, and as a keen runner who had completed two Perth marathons up to that point, he was more than equipped to be an umpire.

His first game, however, proved to be a learning curve. “I was probably too passive,” Rod admits, after a few scuffles broke out during the game.

From that point on, Rod made a conscious decision to take control, enforcing the rules with confidence and clarity. The next 12 years following his first game in 87, Rod officiated 11 grand finals, establishing himself as a respected and composed figure across the competition.

By the time he stepped away from field umpiring in 2006, Rod had surpassed 500 games across a 20-year stint. A transition into the role of field umpire observer followed in 2007, but it didn’t last long. Drawn to the camaraderie and engagement of the goal umpires, he made the switch — a decision that would launch another two decades in the game.

Rod has seen the game from all angles — playing, coaching and umpiring in just about every role, even coaching two-time premiership winner Darren Bewick in his junior years. But when he reflects on his time in the sport, it’s the respect he holds for the effort put in every week across Perth’s local footy community that stands out the most.

Rod speaks highly of the amateur umpiring group, describing them as “Aussie Rules fanatics” from all walks of life united by a shared passion and willingness to learn and develop the game to the next level.

Across four decades, countless moments have stayed with him. From witnessing the technical brilliance of former Fremantle player Leigh Wardell-Johnson at Brentwood Booragoon, to the sheer courage of Mount Lawley and former Swan Districts player Shane Beros, who bounced straight back to his feet after being flattened in a heavy collision by multiple players that should’ve seen him in the back of an ambulance.

Recent moments like the hair-raising 2024 C1 reserves Grand Final between Swan Athletic and Jandakot, which had to be decided in extra time, continue to provide Rod with the fuel to keep umpiring in PFL.

Despite four decades in the game, Rod still relishes travelling to grounds across Perth, embracing the connection with players, coaches, supporters and fellow umpires that makes community footy so unique. In recent seasons, he’s found joy in the antics of a Kelpie that bounds onto the field during quarter-time breaks at West Coast. It’s small moments like these that continue to stack up, adding to a remarkable lifetime of memories and reinforcing his enduring love for the game.

After more than 1,500 games across 40 seasons, Rod knows time is catching up, but his time to step away is not here just yet. For now, Rod continues to play his part in the game he calls “the greatest on Earth.”