We all know that there are lies, damn lies and statistics. Read them whatever way you want but here are a few that we think are worth noting anyway.
Luke Walker becomes the goal umpire with the highest number of finals in VFL/AFL history (30), eclipsing David Dixon’s record of 29. Both have umpired 6 AFL grand finals. Luke averages a final every 6.6 matches. David averages a final every 10.7 matches.
Mark Canning who announced his retirement on the weekend moved into third position on all time games list for goal umpires with 319 games. David Dixon who will be listed again in 2015 is only six games behind Mark and only 24 games behind the current record holder, David Flegg (337 games).
Luke Walker on 6 grand finals is now only one behind Anthony Black (1994-2007) and two behind Reginald Treloar (1927-1943)
Boundary umpire Jonathan Creasey moved into third place for all time finals appearances for boundary umpires with three more this season that takes his tally to 28, including four grand finals.
Mark Thomson and Ian Burrows who both umpired their 5th AFL grand final this season move into equal 7th position for grand finals umpired. Current leader, Darren Wilson still leads the all time list in games and grand finals with 373 games and 12 grand finals respectively. Darren is going to move into his 23rd season in 2015.
Field umpire, Brett Rosebury umpired six grand finals in a row between 2009 and 2013 (including the 2010 replay) but falls one short of the record of R. Scott who umpired seven grand finals in a row between 1929 and 1935. Jack Elder also has six grand finals in sequence (1908-1913).
Ivo Crapp (1898-1902), Brett Allen (2002-2006) and Shaun Ryan (2008-2011, including the 2010 replay) have all umpired five grand finals in a row.
For this years grand final field umpires, it is Simon Meredith’s third grand final in succession while it was Mat Nicholls, second.
If you want to see how all of the umpires records stack up please head to the statistics section of this website.