News

Tristan was always destined to play or umpire AFL football. His father’s heritage had a lot to do with that. “My father was from Ballarat in Victoria. My earliest memories were of him taking us to Carrara. He was the merchandise manager for the Brisbane Bears in their early days. I grew up loving footy and wanting to play,” reflected Tristan when we caught up with him today.

There is a famous statement that – records are made to be broken – and this week, the AFL Sydney Umpires Group has a MILESTONE record that will be made by field umpire Frank Kalayzich – 500 Senior Premier Division Games in the AFL Sydney Competition – a record that will not be surpassed.

Spare a thought for Dean Margetts next time you pack your suitcase for a trip to Perth, or indeed anywhere on a plane. Since 2002 when Dean umpired his first AFL game he has packed his bags 154 times to head across the Nullarbor to fulfil his dream to umpire AFL football.

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.

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.

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.