The AFL announced the umpiring panel for the 2019 AFL Grand Final between Richmond and the GWS GIANTS, to be played at the MCG this Saturday, September 28.
Shaun Ryan, Matt Stevic and Ray Chamberlain have been selected as the field umpires with Simon Meredith named as the emergency. The three field umpires have officiated 15 Grand Finals between them and over 100 AFL finals matches collectively.
On the boundary, Matt Tomkins, Chris Gordon, Ian Burrows and Matt Konetschka have officiated in 12 previous grand finals and 95 finals. Joshua Mather is the emergency boundary umpire in his first taste of grand final fever.
The goal umpires have the only grand final debutant, Michael Craig. He is ably supported by Steve Piperno and first time emergency goal umpire, Angus McKenzie-Wills. The goal umpires have one grand final and 12 finals between them. It is also Michael Craig’s 100th game. What a way to bring it up!
The career statistics of each umpire appointed to the 2019 Toyota AFL Grand Final are presented below:
Field Umpires:
Shaun Ryan: 25
Debut: 2003
Games:329
Finals: 37
Grand Finals: 2008, 2009, 2010 (2), 2011, 2017, 2018
Matt Stevic: 9
Debut: 2004
Games: 379
Finals: 40
Grand Finals: 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Ray Chamberlain: 18
Debut: 2004
Games:312
Finals: 26
Grand Final: 2010 (2)
Emergency:
Simon Meredith
Debut: 2004
Games: 368
Finals: 33
Grand Finals: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
Boundary Umpires:
Matthew Tomkins
Debut: 2012
Games: 186
Finals: 19
Grand Finals: 2014, 2015
Christopher Gordon
Debut: 2009
Games: 258
Finals: 25
Grand Finals: 2011, 2015, 2018
Ian Burrows
Debut: 2006
Games: 296
Finals: 32
Grand Finals: 2008, 2010 (2), 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016,
Matthew Konetschka
Debut: 2012
Games: 168
Finals: 17
Grand Finals: 2017
Emergency
Joshua Mather
Debut: 2014
Games: 123
Finals: 5
Goal Umpires:
Steven Piperno
Debut: 2015
Games: 85
Finals: 8
Grand Finals: 2018
Michael Craig
Debut: 2014
Games: 99
Finals: 4
Emergency
Angus McKenzie-Wills
Debut: 2016
Games: 69
Finals: 5