There are 6 running umpires appointed to their first finals appearance after what the umpiring department said was an extremely harrowing selection meeting.  Three other umpires debut in finals as emergencies. ...

The power base continues to grow in stature.  Four of the eight listed AFL umpires from NSW/ACT have been appointed to the first week of AFL finals.  If we discount Dale Puren who didn't get onto the field this...

One of the many endearing qualities of our most recent milestone recipient, Nick Wade is that he knows how to not take himself too seriously. "With the retirement of John Morris, I am now officially the oldest ...

At the end of every season there is reason to celebrate many wonderful milestones, newly appointed finals umpires and umpires who step up to do grand finals.  We should never lose sight of those whose careers c...

In this day and age of statistics and on the eve of another finals series it might be studious to look at what history tells us about umpire selection and finals. The oft used expression attributed to Britis...

Give a young girl or boy the opportunity to have a kick on the MCG and they will gravitate to it like bees to a honeypot.  Add a few umpires who are after all, frustrated footballers, an ex AFL player as the um...

Having being told not to continue playing football at Mentone Grammar due to continuing shoulder problems, Courtney Lai turned his mind to waving the white flags and enjoyed it so much, that after a stint at th...

Ask Gerard what his best trait is and he fires back his answer with no fuss, "My consistency.  I have umpired 22 games every year without failure.  I was never injured and I am always putting my hand up for sel...