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The ANZAC round of AFL was the second highest single round attendance in history. 391,980 fans turned out across the 9 games of round 5. Monday night’s ANZAC day eve clash between Richmond and Melbourne was the biggest crowd between the two sides in over 110 seasons. 85,657 packed the MCG which was also a big occasion for goal umpire Dylan Benwell, who was making his AFL debut. Dylan now holds the record for the highest attendance on debut. His first goal was a Jack Riewoldt snap from the boundary at the Richmond end of the MCG. Dylan said it was a special game and one he is still pinching himself about. Dylan was awarded heritage number 345.

Seventeen of Melbourne’s up-and-coming young field umpires will learn from some of the AFL’s best officiators in the 2017 Mates Program.

During many wars, Australian rules football matches have been played overseas in places like northern Africa and Vietnam as a celebration of Australian culture and as a bonding exercise between soldiers.

Libby Toovey is a 3rd year field umpire with the VFL.  As a promising developing umpire, Libby was invited to umpire in the inaugural AFL Women’s competition earlier this year.  

Easter long weekend hosted a round 4 footy feast. By the sounds of things, the footy wasn’t the only feast most of the umpires had over the weekend, with plenty of family lunches and dinners attended. 

Who would have thought being a soccer goalkeeper as a kid would help Brett Rogers reach his 100th game milestone when West Coast played St Kilda on Saturday 1 April 2017 at Domain Stadium.

The heat was on after round 2, ask Gary Ablett, Nathan Buckley, Rodney Eade and the umpires to name but a few.  Retired umpires took to the airwaves and the written press to urge people to take a deep breath.  The media has taken a sledge hammer to free kick counts and prior opportunity, deliberate rushed behinds and a tighter interpretation of deliberate out of bounds.  The question is are the media questioning the interpretation of the rule because it was wrong or because they simply disagree with it?

Retiring from umpiring two months ago has left me with a sense of calm I have not felt in years. I’m no longer the target of the ridiculous phrases directed at my former colleagues: “disgraceful”, “back to the VFL”, “worst decision of the year”.