2024 GRAND FINAL UMPIRES
Congratulations to the umpires selected to officiate Saturday’s AFL Grand Final between Sydney and Brisbane at the MCG.
Appointment to the AFL Grand Final is the pinnacle of umpiring and each appointment represents an immense dedication to improving their craft over many seasons.
In the field, Matt Stevic and Simon Meredith will bring a monumental combined experience of 996 AFL matches, with the Grand Final to be the 499th game for both.
It’s now a decade of officiating on the biggest stage for Stevic, who will umpire his 10th straight Grand Final. He will equal the record for most Grand Finals umpired across any discipline, matching Darren Wilson’s 12 Grand Finals on the boundary.
Simon Meredith will equal fellow field umpires Brett Rosebury and Ian Robinson on 9 Grand Finals, this being his third consecutive Grand Final appointment.
Craig Fleer will officiate his second Grand Final, returning to the final game of the year 4 years after his grand final debut in 2020.
Special congratulations go to Nick Foot who will officiate his first Grand Final, bringing 13 seasons of experience to the panel.
Boundary Umpire Daniel Field-Read will also undertake his first Grand Final, a great achievement after having notched up his 200th game in Round 24.
Also on the boundary is Matthew Tomkins and Matthew Konetschka, who will umpire their sixth Grand Finals, while Michael Barlow will bring up his third.
It’s the second Grand Final behind the goals for Sam Walsh, and number three for All-Australian Goal Umpire Matthew Dervan.
Special mention also goes to AFLUA Historian David Flegg, who has been appointed as one of the three timekeepers for Saturday’s match.
Best of luck to the panel. Enjoy the day!
Field: Matt Stevic (498 games, 11 Grand Finals), Simon Meredith (498 games, 8 Grand Finals), Craig Fleer (227 games, 1 Grand Final) and Grand Final debutant Nick Foot (238 games).
Boundary: Matthew Tomkins (307 games, 5 Grand Finals), Matthew Konetschka (288 games, 5 Grand Finals), Michael Barlow (140 games, 2 Grand Finals) and Grand Final debutant Daniel Field-Read (202 games).
Goal: Matthew Dervan (182 games, 2 Grand Finals) and Sam Walsh (130 games, 1 Grand Final)
Emergency Umpires: Andrew Stephens (Field), Damien Main (Boundary), Steven Piperno (Goal).
Article by Patrick Sexton
Feature Image by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos