Brian Bulluss (left)
As he walked from the field following the 1990 Victorian Football Association Grand Final ‘Bomber’ Bulluss drew the curtain on a lengthy on-field umpiring career that saw him successful at each level of football. His contribution to umpiring and football would continue in roles of umpire observer and coach that would positively affect many other umpires for years to come.
Born Brian Joseph Bulluss on 4 September 1954, Bomber began his umpiring journey in 1973 with the Northern Metropolitan Football League. He moved on to the VFL Reserve Grade from 1975-78, a stint which included a single match at Yarram as a senior replacement toward the end of 1977.
Promotion to the senior list came in 1979 on the back of umpiring the 1978 VFL U19 Grand Final. His first appointment on the senior list was the VFL Reserve Grade match between Melbourne and Footscray at the M.C.G. Thirteen more reserves matches would follow that year.
Regular reserve matches and a series of VCFL finals in 1980 and 1981 Round 4, 1982 saw Bomber debut in the VFL. A rare St.Kilda win (even at home) in those days against Geelong saw him earn Heritage No. 292. The following week at Waverley was his second match before omission from the seniors until the final round of the year at Kardinia Park.
It would be almost two seasons before Brian returned to senior football, but he finished 1984 with three more VFL matches, the Bellarine grand final and the Reserve Grade preliminary final. It was in these years that he contributed to the umpires’ association by serving on the Social Committee. As a very social individual it was an excellent fit. Brian was awarded AFLUA life membership in 1988.
Umpiring the first six rounds of 1985 was followed by another two-year break from the seniors but included a dozen VCFL finals or representatives matches.
Season 1988 would prove to be Brian’s most successful at VFL level. Eleven senior matches bringing his total to 28 after his last match, Melbourne versus Sydney at the M.C.G.
In 1989 the VFL merged its umpiring list with that of the VFA. The idea was to use the Association competitions rather than the VCFL for umpire development. In his final season with the now AFL Brian umpired 15 VFA matches which included the grand final. It was a remarkable game that saw Williamstown come from nowhere to snatch a last-minute victory. The frenetic finish required cool, experienced umpiring and that was what Brian and partner John Russo gave, adding to one of the greatest VFA grand finals in the history of the competition. A fitting match on which to bow out after 12 senior list seasons.
While we have no detailed records for 1989, as well as his 28 VFL matches Brian umpired 70 Reserve Grade, 113 VCFL and at least 15 VFA matches. His VCFL total includes 7 grand finals and 14 inter-league matches.
Bomber’s contribution to umpiring did not end when he retired at the end of 1990. Immediately he was recruited as an observer for the AFL, but the following year began a five-year stint as the Victorian Amateur Football Association’s Umpires’ Advisor. He was able to use connections to bring in former colleagues such as Jorj Lawlor to run with his developing umpires. A host of Bulluss’s umpires came to the VFL and some onto the AFL, none more significant than Simon Meredith (VAFA 1991-1996).
In more recent years Brian’s connection with the association was via the X-umpires’ lunches.
A respected umpire and coach as well as a humorous and gregarious man Brian Bulluss passed away 10 February 2025 the result of prostate cancer.