Field umpire Matt Stevic was awarded with his 6th All-Australian award, his 5th in five years. Matt who umpired in his 6th grand final (the last 5 in a row also) was a “clear winner”, according to AFL Umpire’s coach Hayden Kennedy.
Billed as a grand final too close to call, the game itself certainly lived up to those expectations! With scores level at the end of the third quarter, the game finished with West Coast the victors by 5 points in what many commentators were calling one of the greatest grand finals in recent memory.
Most of us are fairly grumpy when starting work on a Monday morning but spare a thought for Matt Jenkinson who was waiting for his phone to ring for two reasons (1) was he appointed to the 2018 finals panel or (2) was his wife going into labour with their second child. Hardly a productive morning could be expected.
While all of the focus on grand final day is on the on-field officials let’s not forget that the AFL officiating “Team” also comprises its off-field team. Congratulations must go to David Flegg who will officiate in his 4th Grand final, but his first as a timekeeper.
Please see below statistics of each of the 2018 AFL Grand Final Umpires.
EXPERIENCED field umpires Brett Rosebury, Shaun Ryan and Matt Stevic have been chosen to officiate in Saturday’s AFL Grand Final between West Coast and Collingwood.
We know that the West Coast Eagles will play Collingwood in the grand final for season 2018. The only unknown is who will umpire.
The AFL has opted for experience in selecting its Preliminary Finals panel of umpires this weekend.
Photo: AFL Rookie Umpire, Sam Hunter – WA Goal Umpire of the Year