28 August 2025
For footy-mad students at North Harrisdale Primary School, best-on-ground at the West Coast-Adelaide clash earlier this month was their physical education teacher, Bailey Foulk.
But Mr Foulk wasn’t wearing the colours of the Eagles, nor the Crows. He was in the light green of the umpires.
North Harrisdale Primary School Bailey Foulk and his mum at Optus.
Mr Foulk made his AFL umpiring debut in the round 22 match at Optus Stadium, assigned boundary line duties in what was a close and exciting contest.
It was a dream come true for the 24-year-old and his colleagues and students were excited to celebrate the special moment with him.
“Achieving a long-term goal that I’ve worked so hard for was incredibly rewarding,” Mr Foulk said.
“But what made it even more special was having my family, friends, colleagues, students and their families there to support and celebrate the moment with me.
“That meant a lot.”
The whistleblower was overwhelmed with messages of support from his school community after sharing news of his elevation to the big league.
“I received countless congratulatory messages from my colleagues and my students were thrilled when they found out I would be umpiring my first AFL game,” Mr Foulk said.
“I felt incredibly supported by students and their families, many of whom sent kind messages and even came along to watch the game. Some even came down to the boundary to give me a high-five.
“I think many of my students were inspired to see me achieve a goal I’ve been working hard towards for the past two years and it’s been a great way to show them that dedication and persistence really do pay off.”
After rising through the umpiring ranks, presiding over WAFL and AFLW matches, Mr Foulk said his nerves faded when he set foot on the stadium turf in his AFL debut.
“Deep down, I knew I had earned this opportunity and at the end of the day, it was just another game,” he said.
“It was a high-energy, exciting match to be part of and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I was given.”
Mr Foulk sees similarities between his umpiring responsibilities on the footy field and teaching duties at North Harrisdale Primary School – beyond the obvious link of using a whistle in both roles.
“Strong communication is essential, as is the ability to make quick decisions under pressure,” he said.
“Both roles also require emotional resilience, a solid understanding of rules and techniques and the responsibility of being a positive role model for students.”
Mr Foulk also officiated in West Coast’s final game of the year against Sydney in round 24 and is looking forward to combining his passion for teaching and umpiring in the years ahead.
“Teaching is one of the most rewarding careers anyone can have, I genuinely look forward to coming to school every day,” he said.
“My goal as a teacher is to ensure every student feels a sense of belonging, believes in their ability to achieve their goals and is encouraged to grow into the best version of themselves.
“I'm incredibly fortunate to work at such an amazing school, North Harrisdale Primary School.”
Since his AFL breakthrough, Mr Foulk said a few students were showing an interest in his umpiring exploits.
“I’m not sure how many are seriously interested in umpiring, but I have noticed some trying to copy the signals I use and even practising running backwards, like I do,” he said.