AFLUA Heritage Number: 541
AFL Matches at the end of 2023: 311
1st AFL Match: Round 1, 2011, Melbourne v Sydney
300th AFL Match: Round 16, 2023, Hawthorn v Carlton (MCG)
Commenced umpiring career with: Essendon District Football League – 2003
Honours in umpiring:
Murray Williams Shield – 2020 and 2021
All Australian Umpire – 2021
AFL Grand Final – 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022
Bill Sutton Medal – 2012
VFL Grand Final – 2009 and 2010
Michael Marantelli became the 57th umpire to officiate in 300 VFL/AFL matches (18th boundary umpire). He has achieved this milestone faster than any other umpire, in 12 years 97 days, eclipsing field umpire Matt Stevic’s run of 12 years 145 days.
Marantelli’s umpiring started with the EDFL. He umpired the EDFL A Grade Grand Final in 2004 before joining the VFL in 2005. He umpired a number of grand finals with the VFL including the 2005 TAC Cup, 2006 VFL Reserves, 2008 TAC Cup, 2009 and 2010 VFL Grand Finals. He was VFL Boundary Umpire of the Year in 2009.
Marantelli joined the AFL Boundary Squad in 2011. He has umpired 327 AFL matches including 34 AFL Finals and 6 AFL Grand Finals (2013, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022) and one All-Australian Umpire award (2021) to his credit.
Marantelli was awarded the Bill Sutton Medallion in 2012 as the Best First- or Second-year Umpire (boundary) and was recognised as the Boundary Umpire of the Year (Murray Williams Shield) in 2020 and 2021.
As a supporter of the boundary umpiring group and the Association, Marantelli brought his experience to the fore when he served on the AFLUA Executive Committee in 2020 and 2021 as the Boundary Umpire Representative. He was awarded Life Membership of the AFL Umpires’ Association in 2020.
Marantelli is a three-time race winner at the Stawell Athletic Carnival.