Five hundred and two games after an inauspicious start in a Carlton v Sydney match at Princess Park in 1994, the curtain has finally come down on one of the real characters of AFL umpiring.
Shane McInerney – The GOAT?
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Veterans go back to the future
A few months back I made a few discrete enquiries as to the health and fitness of some of our veteran umpires when I was formulating a plan for selecting umpires to officiate in the 2019 version of the EJ Whitten match.
Round 23 shorts: Mark Thomson – 400 of the best
The boundary umpire factory of South Australia has produced another outstanding athlete, boundary umpire and more important, a great person. Stand and applaud, 400 AFL games, Mark Thomson.
Round 22 shorts – The problem of being in the wrong place at the wrong time
Spare a thought for second year field umpire, Alex Whetton who weighs 60kg ringing wet when he inadvertently collided with Lachie Schultz weighing in at 78kg running at full pace. Alex was knocked unconscious and had to be assisted from the field. While he did not show any immediate signs of concussion he did in the days following and his season has come to a premature end.
Round 21 shorts: Where has 2019 gone?
Photo courtesy of: Grant Case
Five hundred reasons to continue the celebration
The celebrations continue for our games record breaker Shane McInerney. Four AFL coaches arrived at training last Thursday night to recognise the enormity of Shane’s achievement. They arrived only to find every field umpire training in one of Shane’s 37 old umpiring shirts with the number 30 on the back. It was a sight to behold.
Round 19 Shorts – Dillon Tee’d up a gem
Round 18 Shorts: Daniel Wilson keeps on keeping on
Sixteen years in elite sport, maintaining a very high level of performance, balancing work and life are all the battles that Dan faces each week and indeed each year to keep his spot on the goal umpiring panel. Two hundred and fifty games is a mammoth games tally, indeed only 16 goal umpires have gone further than 250 games. Only one current umpire, Chris Appleton, 279 games has done more. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride is also a saying that Daniel can be labeled with. His career finals number eight, but his near misses are too numerous to note. Remember only eight goal umpires each year form the finals panel. Only six current goal umpires have umpired a grand final. Mention Dan’s name to anyone and he is regarded as one of the best. Well done Dan.
Rob reaches the ton
Rob O’Gorman’s quietly passed his 100thgame milestone when he took to the field for the Fremantle v Carlton game on Sunday 30thJune.