The South Australian Umpires Association held its annual dinner on Tuesday night where life members and current umpires come together to celebrate umpiring in South Australia. Current running umpires get the opportunity to rub shoulders with umpires of the past and trade stories of days gone by.
Goal umpire, David Dixon breaks a long standing record when he steps out in the first qualifying final on Friday night. David will surpass the highest number of finals umpired by any goal umpire in VFL/ AFL history when he goes past Craig Clark’s record of 34 finals (28 finals 6 grand finals). Craig set the record in 2007 and also held the record of the most VFL/AFL games, 334 until passed by current record holder, David Flegg.
All three of the listed WA AFL field umpires were appointed to this weeks AFL finals series in an great coup for the state. Dean Margetts comes back into the finals panel this year and will do his third final, Luke Farmer does back to back final series for his second final and Jeff Dalgleish is appointed to his first final. Jeff has been on the panel since 2009 and has umpired 71 matches. Add to that mix WA born Brett Rosebury who will umpire his 32nd final and the “sandgropers” are on a high.
Please click here to view an article from the Herald Sun.
When actions are needed to speak louder than words we turn to the quiet achievers and Troy Mavroudis from Queensland is certainly one of those men. He has stood the test of time, twelve years to be precise, as an AFL umpire who cares passionately about the game and umpiring.
Article written by team mate – AFL boundary umpire, Michael Saunders
AFL goal umpire, Mark Canning becomes only the sixth goal umpire in VFL/AFL history to be appointed to 300 games. Mark is looking forward to walking out onto the Etihad surface at the traditional time of 2.10pm Saturday afternoon when North Melbourne plays Hawthorn in what could be a shoot out.
The umpiring department obviously thought that Jack McBurney might need some assistance in his 400 AFL appearance on the weekend so they appointed him with Shane McInerney who was doing his 373rd game and with veteran “rookie” Stuart Wenn who was doing his 330th game. When was the last time three field umpires with 1103 games and a combined age of 130 years umpired a game of AFL football?
Ian Huntington hit off the tee last, into a fierce wind on the second hole at Kew Golf Club six days ago.