What a contrasting set of semi finals we witnessed last weekend. One game was an open and fast affair, while the latter was a dour, tough contest with spot fires breaking out everywhere. Umpires – field, boundary and goal were put to the test. As we head into preliminary final week, the final names have emerged.
I put the question to our stats guru David Flegg. Have brothers ever umpired in finals in VFL/AFL history?
During footy finals time our attention is often turned to those great grand finals of yesteryear. So it was only fitting that we recognised two of our only surviving members from the ‘1950s*Field umpire, Bill Barbour and goal umpire, Roly Caird umpired the 1959 VFL grand final. Despite 56 years of elapsed time you couldn’t get a word in when the two men caught up recently at the Eildon Hotel for lunch and a convivial ale or two.Bill, aged 92 and Roly, 95 chatted over lunch about that grand final in ’59 that saw 103,506 people flock to the MCG to see Melbourne run out victors over Essendon by 37 points. For both Bill and Roly it was their one and only VFL grand final. Bill umpired 154 games including 7 finals and 1 grand final. Roly umpired 231 games, 6 finals and 1 grand final.Ron Bailey who looks after our X-men decided it was time to reunite the two men. Bill has lived in Eildon for many years now and with the help of his son, Paul, Ron organised to drive Roly to Eildon for the day. Roly is a regular at our Mornington luncheons loved the opportunity to see his old mate, Bill.The grand final umpires team of 1959 was star studded. Boundary umpire Herbert Kent was running in his third of four grand finals in a career that included 330 games, a record only bettered by current boundary umpire, Darren Wilson. On the ground with him was William Treloar who umpired 155 games including 8 finals and 3 grand finals. Darrell Cranch partnered Roly in the goals. Darrell’s career included 117 games, 5 finals and 2 grand finals.* Harry Beitzel who umpired the 1955 grand final is the third remaining member of the 50’s.
AFL Rookie field umpire, James Waldorf from Queensland was involved in an absolute nail biter in the NEAFL grand final for the second year in a row. NT Thunder was over run by Aspley but managed to hang on to win by one point on Saturday night at TIO Stadium. James who was the NEAFL umpire of the year in 2015, also umpired the NEAFL grand final in 2014 that saw Aspley win in a kick after the siren against the Sydney Swans. Former AFL listed boundary umpire, Scott Gordon was also appointed to the game.
Week two of the finals always throws up some interesting ins and outs. Grand final umpires in the past two years, Simon Meredith and Mathew Nicholls find themselves sitting on the benches this week as emergency umpires. History would suggest that their seasons may well be over.
Leslie Edward Johnson, otherwise known as Edward or Ted depending which table you are looking at in the 2014 AFLUA year book announced his retirement from active duty last night in front of the AFL umpiring family and received a standing ovation.
The AFL umpiring department has selected six first time finals umpires to take to the field over this weekend.
Veteran goal umpire, Jason Venkataya waved his flags for the 211th time in an AFL game on Friday night and bowed out of football. In a great show of support for Jason all of the officiating umpires waited in the centre of the MCG for Jason to finish his duty of checking the score with fellow goal umpire, Chris Appleton and then left the arena together with Jason leading the group off the field.
AFLUA Life member Allan Cook represented Australia in the masters 800 metre race at the IAAF world athletics championships being held in Beijing.