Our Fiona McBurney match day participant, Brad stole the show after the game on Saturday at the “G” and according to his father, Glen, it wasn’t the first time! Get a look at Brad’s post match speech on our website. Brad misses no one, Dean Margetts, Ray Chamberlain, our goal umpires for not working hard enough. We wish Brad all the best as he is about to travel to Italy to represent Australia in the Down Syndrome Swimming titles.
Channel Seven focused in on Darren Wilson as he left the ground for the last time on Thursday night in the Adelaide v Nth Melbourne clash at Adelaide oval. Bruce McAvaney reflected on Darren’s contribution to the game and wished him well. It was a moment in time that has been wonderfully captured by the cameras. Darren’s final stats were 404 games, 48 finals and 12 grand finals. The AFLUA went to celebrate Darren’s 400th game with him on Friday night in what then turned out to be his retirement function. See excerpts from the night on our video link and read an article on Darren’s career.
Another South Australian, Craig Fleer has also had a big week. He umpired his 50th AFL game when in charge of the St.Kilda v Geelong clash at Etihad on Saturday night and became a father for the first time last Tuesday. Congratulations to Sarah-Jane and Craig.
In the second week of the four umpire trial Simon Meredith and Troy Pannell doubled up and traveled. Simon umpired in Adelaide on Thursday and went to Launceston on Saturday night for Sunday’s clash between Hawthorn and Gold Coast. While Troy went from the G on Friday night to Launceston on Sunday. Again both agreed that they were able to come up physically, they were mentally tired by siren time Sunday.
Spare a thought for Brent Wallace in a “couldn’t be better” moment. Brent was a late call up for the St.Kilda v Geelong clash when Jacob Mollison pulled out. Brent was also in charge of the same game last season that ended in a draw in round 21. You couldn’t wipe the smile off his face at training on Tuesday night, he was really up and about.
Canberra based goal umpire, Dale Puren has had no luck, illness, injury and now exhaustion has put paid to his attempt to get back onto the AFL rotation this season. Dale collapsed after his recent benchmark test and while not hospitalised, he did undergo a significant battery of tests. The feedback from Dale was positive and that he was simply suffering from exhaustion. His wife Caterina had given birth to their second child two days before his test was scheduled.
Eleni Glouftsis returns to the SANFL this weekend as she continues to grow in experience in senior state league football. Eleni has umpired in all senior VFL matches this year and was looking forward to getting back to her home town.