We have to spare a thought for the players and umpires in Saturday’s clash on the Gold Coast. Strong storms lashed the whole eastern seaboard of Australia and dumped 278mm of rain on the Gold Coast mostly during the game. Only just over 4,000 spectators braved the conditions to watch the game. Veteran boundary umpire, Aaron Deckys cannot remember experiencing conditions like it before, “and I’ve been around for close to 20 years!”
Down in Hobart on Friday night, the boys certainly didn’t need to hop into the ice baths at the end of the game. I am reliably told at the ambient temperature was minus 2.
Field umpire Jordan Bannister certainly put an end to speculation about a decision he made in the final quarter of the Hawthorn v Melbourne match calling it “Sh**house” and apologising for his mistake. Jordan’s decision threw up speculation again about an already heated focus on head high contact and took the heat out of it saying simply, it was a wrong decision.
Congratulations to Bendigo born, Tim Lougoon who notched up his 50th AFL game on the weekend in the Carlton v Brisbane match at Etihad stadium. Tim was a late call up in 2014 umpiring his first game in Rd 5 when Melbourne played Gold Coast at the MCG. The Bendigo umpires saw something in Tim’s umpiring to appoint him to his first senior Bendigo grand final at age 16. (See Tim’s story later in the week)
John Morris moved to 5th place, all-time on the boundary umpires list of games. John has now umpired 313 games passing the late Des Fitzgerald (312)
Jonathan Creasey is on track to umpire his 300th AFL game this coming weekend.
Article written by: AFLUA CEO, Peter Howe