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A live orchestrated screening of the drawn 2010 AFL Grand Final between St Kilda and Collingwood – an epic game that most Australians have never forgotten – was conducted at the Arts Centre last Thursday.

SA based boundary umpire, Chris Bull has taken all before him this season and this weekend debuts in his first AFL grand final.  He continues the great dynasty of SA umpires in AFL grand finals.  Chris has umpired 121 games including 5 finals. 

We all know Brian Taylor is prone to exaggeration from time to time and some were surprised to realise he even knew the name Chris Appleton.  However, to say he is the most experienced goal umpire was a little fanciful during the preliminary final commentary on Saturday night, although he may well be the best!

Ask anyone and they will say that there is no bigger roar than the start of a preliminary final in front of a packed house.  The footy purists clearly say that it solely because it is the last bastion of club supporters, who flock to the game in their tens of thousands because at the grand final there are less members of the two competing clubs who can get a ticket.

AFL Rookie umpires have a tough but rewarding time in each season they are “supplementary listed” and given an AFL contract to sit on a bench as an emergency field umpire.

I can’t help but think that the AFL finals in 2016 are about renewal.  I cannot remember a series that has captured the imagination of the football public like it in recent years.  

Umpiring your first AFL game is always a highlight of an umpire’s career, so when Steve Piperno was appointed to his first AFL final, it was another positive step forward in only his second year on the list.

NSW based goal umpire, Brodie Kenny-Bell made news last year when he became the first goal umpire since 1995 to be appointed to a final in his first year as a contracted umpire.  Brodie comes into the first semi final, Sydney v Adelaide following a stint as the emergency umpire last weekend, making it two finals in two years.  Brodie is the only new face into the finals line up.

It’s only after the event that a person who equals or break a record has time to reflect on what that means.  You will often hear players say, “When my career is over it will be something that I will sit back and reflect on.  I will certainly cherish it more then.”  The same goes for some long standing records that were equaled or broken on the weekend.  The single focus for all of those men is to make the grand final team in 2016.  All else pales by contrast.