George ‘Sadist’ Mather

Sep 20, 2017 | News

George Mather’s involvement with umpiring has spanned 62 years – as a boundary umpire with the VFL Reserve Grade, Umpires’ Trainer and Fitness Coach for the VFL Goal Umpires’ squad. George Mather, born to Victor & Muriel Mather at Sunshine on the 30th December...

Finals Week 2 shorts: Now the footy gets tough

Sep 19, 2017 | News, Umpire Shorts

When the football is one sided and umpiring goes unnoticed it would be tough to make changes going into the penultimate round of finals of 2017.  So spare a thought for Brendan Hosking and Ray Chamberlain who might be in the unenviable position of having to sit...

Milestones achieved and records broken this weekend

Sep 19, 2017 | Milestones, News

Justin Schmitt becomes the 13th umpire in the history of the game to umpire 350 games this weekend when he takes the field in the Adelaide v Geelong Preliminary Final. Justin just keeps getting better with age. During the middle phase of his career that commenced in...

AFL goal umpire Luke Walker to notch up his 35th final, the all-time record

Sep 14, 2017 | Milestones, News

LUKE Walker says he never set out to become a record-breaking AFL goal umpire. But that’s exactly what he will do on Friday night when he officiates in the Geelong-Sydney semi-final at the MCG. Please click here to view the full article from The...

Finals Week 1 Shorts: AFL stands by its umpires

Sep 12, 2017 | News

It was great to see the AFL come out in support of umpiring and Chris Donlon after the Pt Adelaide v WCE match on the weekend.  Football has become such a complex game to manage it was pleasing to see that acknowledged.  Ken Hinkley, likewise took a much...