Matthew Tomkins – 150 AFL games

May 31, 2018 | Milestones, News

For Matt, it only seems like yesterday that he walked into his first AFL training session alongside Chris Esler and Matt Jenkinson but last Saturday Matt Tomkins officiated his 150thAFL game. Matt started his career with the Essendon District Football League in 2005...

Round 10 shorts – Goal umpires continue to perform to the elite standards expected

May 29, 2018 | News

How do we separate the score review system from our elite performers, the goal umpires? This is the vexed question the AFL needs to grapple with as the score review comes under extreme pressure from key stakeholders.  Coaches, players, commentators and supporters are...

Veteran whistle blower believes umpire-player relationships have never been stronger

May 24, 2018 | News

Umpires have been front and centre in the past few weeks. But despite an array of contact related incidents and issues with rule interpretations, veteran whistle blower Brett Rosebury believes relationships between umpires and players have never been stronger....

Michael Saunders – a remote 200!

May 23, 2018 | Milestones, News

When Michael stepped onto Spotless Stadium last Saturday he did so with little fan fare and even less recognition of the milestone that has taken him 9 years and 45 days to achieve, 200 AFL games.  Michael becomes the 137th umpire to achieve the feat and only the 47th...

Round 9 shorts – Mollison travels to China for his 200th game

May 22, 2018 | News

Congratulations to Jacob Mollison on achieving his 200 game milestone but he had to travel further than any other umpire in the history of the game to achieve it, Shanghai!  Jacob came onto the list in 2008 from the VFL via Albury in the Ovens and Murray Football...