West Australian boundary umpire, Sean Moylan debuted in his first AFL game this weekend in what turned out to be a pulsating game at Optus Stadium between WCE and Geelong. Optus Stadium will become a bigger fortress than Subiaco ever was. Our umpires who have experienced it first hand in the first three rounds say that the noise is amazing.
Sean, who is following in the footsteps of his father, who umpired WAFL football is the 576th boundary umpire to debut. Sean said, “there was a fair difference between the 1,000 people at Peel Thunder last week compared to the 50,000 plus yesterday afternoon. The noise and atmosphere was amazing, I loved every minute of it.” Sean was able to share the moment with his friends and family. His father had flown done from Fitzroy Crossing for Sean’s first AFL match.
The Gold Coast Suns are spending two weeks in WA to play two games back to back. However, the Brisbane based boundary and goal umpires had to fly into Perth for the game. Adam Reardon who debuted last weekend on the boundary at the Gabba has his second match on Optus Stadium in Perth and will do his third game this weekend in Hobart. Not a bad gig if you can get it. It was good to see veteran boundary umpire, Drew Kowalski in for his first game on the weekend after missing the first two rounds with a leg injury.
Troy Pannell is cursed. He sustained a hamstring injury at the opening bounce of the fourth quarter at the SCG on Saturday night and could miss up to four weeks. Emergency umpire Cameron Barr, came on a few minutes into the quarter and had the best seat in the house when Buddy Franklin, pushed off his opponent and slotted a 65 metre goal in the dying stages of the quarter. Cameron said the noise was deafening and the atmosphere in the middle electrifying as he experienced his first AFL match off the bench.
Our round three FM MDE participant was Michael Martine. Michael and his family shared a great day at the MCG with our chaperone, Julia Gauci and our umpires. Please see his video when it is put up on our website later this week.