The first thing you notice about chatting with Chris Gordon (Gordo) is that his smile immediately disarms you and you relax into his company with ease.
Gordo prepares for his 150
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A sliding doors moment and 50 AFL games
Field umpire Nick Foot was very happy as a youngster playing footy with his mates at North Hobart while his father coached opposition team Glenorchy. Nick was 14 years old, he played with mates on Saturday and umpired with mates on Sunday.
Round 10 shorts – Umps support the big freeze at the G
It was great to see all of the umpires walking onto the MCG yesterday in beanies supporting the big freeze event. Chris Kamolins officiated at the toss still wearing his in support of this magnificent fund raiser. Many of our older members will remember only too well VFL field umpire, Ian Coates being cut down by this “beast” in his umpiring prime. Ian umpired 94 matches including 4 finals between 1968 and 1973 when he was forced to retire because of this disease. He went on to coach young developing umpires for many years until he succumbed to the disease.
Book Launch – Anthenians and Red Invincibles
Former VFL umpire Murray Bird has produced a book called “Athenians and Red Invincibles” it tells the story of the beginnings of football in the north of Australia in 1866.
Rob’s 250 game milestone in dreamtime at the “G”
Boundary umpire Rob Haala ran under the spotlight at the MCG on Saturday night with the footy focusing on the centre piece of the indigenous round, Dreamtime at the G and the great 400 game milestone of Dustin Fletcher.
Round 9 shorts
Highly experienced boundary umpire Rob Haala umpired his 250th AFL game in a significant encounter at the MCG on Saturday night, dreamtime at the G. Rob moves into 15th place in total number of VFL/AFL games umpired by boundary umpires. Rob joins Aaron Deckys (259), Jonathan Creasey (280), John Morris (290), Mark Thomson (307) and Darren Wilson (381) as current running boundary umpires who have more than 250 games to their credit.
Hosko hits 50
“I never expected to make the AFL panel on my first attempt after umpiring the 2011 VFL grand final. I had only umpired 38 senior VFL games and it was my first final series, but you would never turn down the opportunity,” reflected Brendan today when he thought about his introduction to AFL football.
Reflections on the day with Isabel Fitzgerald
As Hawthorn premiership defender Grant Birchall and Melbourne captain Nathan Jones shake hands before the pre-game coin toss, participating in awe is 19-year-old Isabel Fitzgerald. From her vantage point in the centre of the MCG, arguably Australia’s grandest sports stadium, Isabel hears the heads-tails verdict and which end the team of the winner will kick first.
A familiar face at AFL training
Every Tuesday and Thursday night, there’s always a familiar face at AFL Umpires training down here in Melbourne.