Until relatively recent times a replacement was an unlikely occurrence. From 1897 to 1991 only 27 known replacements were made and 16 of those were an emergency field umpire replacing a boundary. The ‘umpire with blood in your boots culture’ is borne out in such a statistic and to some extent backs up the folklore of struggling on through a game and hoping the recovery would be swift enough for them not to lose their place for the following round.
In the modern era under a possibly more enlightened injury and selection regime and perhaps with an eye on longer-term health and therefore career involvement, has led to umpires coming off when in previous years they might have forged on.
The introduction of the emergency goal umpire in home and away matches in 1993 has also provided for specialist replacements. In the modern era having an emergency field umpire step into the goals could prove an awkward (yet interesting) situation. No better example exists than the second ever goal umpire replacement which came in an ANZAC Day draw. There have been 14 goal umpire replacements, Adam Wojcik’s shoulder dislocation in round 9 2021 the last.
Overall Bryan Sheehan is the most replaced umpire. Between 1994 and 2003 he was replaced six times. There have been a number of multiple beneficiaries: Scott Jeffery leads the way, replacing team mates on four occasions; Corin Rowe, Tristan Burgess, Keiron Nicholls, Mark Nash, Scott McLaren and Matt Stevic have come on three times in the field. Colin Hood remains the only goal umpire to come on twice.
A number of umpires have entered the game as emergency umpires and not umpired another match. In most cases they were country field umpires who often sat as emergencies but never took the next step. Rowan Hundertmark, also a rookie, holds the unique position of coming on as a replacement and then leaving the match due to injury (cramp). He was not replaced.
In looking at the records I have discovered that for many replacements I have not known or recorded the full details. I know who replaced who but often not at what stage of the game or for what reason. You can help!
Were you replaced or a replacement? Can you remember the circumstances?
Below is a table showing what we know.
If you can add to it please contact the AFLUA historian-statistician with details at aflua.historian@gmail.com or SMS or call 0408 509 960.
YEAR | R | HOMETEAM | AWAYTEAM | VENUE | REPLACEMENT | REPLACED | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1939 | GF | MELBOURNE | COLLINGWOOD | M.C.G. | Bill Blackburn | Alan Coward | During second quarter (elbow) |
1942 | 11 | HAWTHORN | RICHMOND | GLENFERRIE OVAL | Patty Morgan | Len Port | At half-time (leg) |
1942 | 16 | NORTH MELBOURNE | ESSENDON | ARDEN STREET | Frank Spokes | Len Port | At half-time (leg) |
1952 | 11 | NORTH MELBOURNE | SOUTH MELBOURNE | ARDEN STREET | Cliff Dunn | Leo Wright | At half time (collapsed during interval) |
1953 | 1S | FOOTSCRAY | ESSENDON | M.C.G. | Bill Barbour | Frank Mariner (B) | At three-quarter time (ankle) |
1957 | 17 | HAWTHORN | ESSENDON | GLENFERRIE OVAL | Sid Trimble | Harry Beitzel | During the second quarter (leg) |
1965 | 3 | FITZROY | MELBOURNE | BRUNSWICK STREET | Mark Turner | Ray Calway (B) | At quarter-time (stomach upset) |
1968 | 1S | GEELONG | ST.KILDA | M.C.G. | Graham Baker (B) | Arthur Cook (B) | At quarter-time (calf) |
1968 | N1 | SOUTH MELBOURNE | NORTH MELBOURNE | LAKE OVAL | Ian Artso | Ray Frost (B) | During the second quarter (hamstring) |
1969 | 7 | ST.KILDA | ESSENDON | MOORABBIN | Bernie Sidler | Arthur Cook (B) | At quarter-time (leg) |
1971 | 1 | GEELONG | ST.KILDA | KARDINIA PARK | Harvie Lyons | John Sutcliffe | During the third quarter (leg cramp) |
1972 | 8 | RICHMOND | HAWTHORN | V.F.L. PARK | Merv Hindson | Bill Sutton (B) | During the final quarter (testicle) |
1974 | 15 | ST.KILDA | ESSENDON | MOORABBIN | William Noonan | Geoff Lee (B) | |
1974 | 21 | FOOTSCRAY | ST.KILDA | WESTERN OVAL | Neil Kearney | Kevin C. Mitchell (B) | At half time (glandular fever) |
1975 | 3 | ESSENDON | MELBOURNE | WINDY HILL | Merv Hindson | unknown (B) | At three-quarter time (calf) |
1975 | 11 | ESSENDON | HAWTHORN | WINDY HILL | Bob Croxford | Kevin Smith | During the second quarter (ankle) |
1975 | 14 | ESSENDON | CARLTON | WINDY HILL | Graeme Williams | Bill Sutton (B) | At three-quarter time (calf) |
1976 | 1 | FOOTSCRAY | ESSENDON | WESTERN OVAL | John L. Williams | Ian Wheeler (B) | |
1976 | 8 | ESSENDON | GEELONG | WINDY HILL | Max Taylor | Murray Williams (B) | During the second quarter (diarrhoea). Williams returned 7 minutes later. |
1977 | QF | HAWTHORN | NORTH MELBOURNE | M.C.G. | Geoff Polites | Ian Robinson | During second quarter (corked thigh) |
1978 | 7 | RICHMOND | SOUTH MELBOURNE | M.C.G. | John Caulfield | Ian Robinson | At quarter-time (strained calf) |
1979 | 13 | MELBOURNE | GEELONG | V.F.L. PARK | Peter Howe | Ray Prosser | During third quarter (leg) |
1982 | 4 | SYDNEY | FITZROY | S.C.G. | Shane Fisher | Mike Dye | During second quarter (unknown) |
1982 | 14 | CARLTON | HAWTHORN | PRINCES PARK | Robert Gutterson | Stephen Donohue (B) | During the first quarter (broken leg) |
1982 | 19 | HAWTHORN | COLLINGWOOD | PRINCES PARK | Ian Bennett | Paul Nicholls (B) | During the third quarter (Unconscious from collision) |
1984 | 16 | NORTH MELBOURNE | COLLINGWOOD | M.C.G. | Brian Woodhead | Stephen Donohue (B) | At quarter-time (calf) |
1984 | 22 | ESSENDON | NORTH MELBOURNE | WINDY HILL | Brett Upfield | Murray Williams (B) | At half time (knee) |
1991 | 8 | ESSENDON | WEST COAST | WINDY HILL | David Howlett | Chris Mitchell | At quarter-time (corked calf) |
1992 | 14 | SYDNEY | GEELONG | S.C.G. | Roger Crowhurst | John Harvey | At half-time (calf) |
1993 | 1 | CARLTON | FITZROY | PRINCES PARK | Mark Nash | Alan Hammond (B) | At quarter time (hamstring) |
1993 | 17 | NORTH MELBOURNE | ST.KILDA | M.C.G. | Michael Viney | Justin Delaney (B) | |
1993 | 17 | WEST COAST | ADELAIDE | SUBIACO OVAL | Grant Vernon | Peter Cameron | During the final quarter (hamstring) |
1993 | 18 | HAWTHORN | CARLTON | V.F.L. PARK | John Russo | Hayden Kennedy | |
1993 | 20 | ESSENDON | FOOTSCRAY | M.C.G. | Darren McCauley | Malcolm Owen (B) | |
1994 | 12 | MELBOURNE | CARLTON | M.C.G. | Geoff Caulfield | Bryan Sheehan | During final quarter (leg - result of collision) |
1994 | 24 | SYDNEY | MELBOURNE | S.C.G. | Micahel Heinrichs (G) | Steve Shepherd (G) | At half time (groin - struck by ball) |
1995 | 4 | COLLINGWOOD | ESSENDON | M.C.G. | Colin Hood (G) | Laurie Page (G) | During the third quarter (ankle) |
1996 | 3 | FOOTSCRAY | FITZROY | WESTERN OVAL | Kieron Nicholls | Rowan Sawers | During the second quarter (groin) |
1996 | 16 | NORTH MELBOURNE | ST.KILDA | M.C.G. | Jamie Love | Bryan Sheehan | During the third quarter (hamstring) |
1997 | 2 | PORT ADELAIDE | ESSENDON | FOOTBALL PARK | Steve Murphy (G) | Anthony Squeo (G) | At half time |
1997 | 9 | FOOTSCRAY | NORTH MELBOURNE | M.C.G. | Andrew Malcolm | Darren Goldspink | At half time (leg) |
1997 | 18 | ADELAIDE | CARLTON | FOOTBALL PARK | Tim Pfieffer | Denis Rich | |
1997 | 20 | RICHMOND | NORTH MELBOURNE | M.C.G. | Tim Shearer | Andrew Coates | During the second quarter (concussion - result of collision) |
1998 | 8 | ADELAIDE | RICHMOND | FOOTBALL PARK | Troy Burton | Bryan Sheehan | During the final quarter (blood nose) |
1998 | 9 | SYDNEY | HAWTHORN | S.C.G. | Martin Ellis | Peter Carey | At half time (calf) |
1998 | 10 | NORTH MELBOURNE | GEELONG | M.C.G. | Craig Durham | Grant Vernon | During the second quarter (ankle) |
1998 | 13 | HAWTHORN | NORTH MELBOURNE | V.F.L. PARK | Matt Norden | Steve Hanley | During the second quarter |
1998 | 21 | ST.KILDA | WEST COAST | V.F.L. PARK | Gavin Deller | Darren Goldspink | At half-time (leg) |
1998 | 22 | BRISBANE | ST.KILDA | GABBA | Neil O'Brien (G) | Glen Dryburgh (G) | At half-time (calf) |
1999 | 13 | ST.KILDA | COLLINGWOOD | V.F.L. PARK | Corin Rowe | Vince Sercia | At half-time (hamstring) |
1999 | 17 | GEELONG | FOOTSCRAY | KARDINIA PARK | Mark Nash | Shane McInerney | During the third quarter (ankle) |
2000 | 3 | SYDNEY | MELBOURNE | S.C.G. | Troy Burton | Mark McKenzie | During the first quarter |
2000 | 6 | CARLTON | PORT ADELAIDE | PRINCES PARK | Scott McLaren | Andrew Coates | During the final quarter (corked thigh - result of collision) |
2000 | 22 | GEELONG | SYDNEY | KARDINIA PARK | Darren McCauley | Gavin Dore | During the first quarter (concussion - the result of a collision) |
2000 | 22 | WEST COAST | MELBOURNE | SUBIACO OVAL | Mark Nash | Michael Vozzo | At half-time (ankle) |
2001 | 3 | MELBOURNE | GEELONG | M.C.G. | Corin Rowe | Steve Hanley | During the third quarter. |
2001 | 4 | SYDNEY | ESSENDON | S.C.G. | Scott Jeffery | David Howlett | During the final quarter (family injury at match - accompanied wife to hospital) |
2001 | 13 | KANGAROOS | PORT ADELAIDE | MANUKA OVAL | Kieron Nicholls | Darren Morris | During the first quarter (groin) |
2001 | 21 | GEELONG | BRISBANE | KARDINIA PARK | Steve Hanley | Gavin Dore | At half time (hamstring) |
2002 | 8 | ESSENDON | ST.KILDA | DOCKLANDS | Gavin Dore | Ray Kelsey | At three-quarter time (corked thigh) |
2002 | 11 | ESSENDON | PORT ADELAIDE | DOCKLANDS | Colin Rowston | Matt James | During the first quarter (leg) |
2002 | 11 | BRISBANE | ST.KILDA | GABBA | Katrina Pressley (G) | David Morris (G) | At three-quarter time (groin) |
2002 | 14 | CARLTON | RICHMOND | M.C.G. | Jason Quigley | Hayden Kennedy | At quarter-time |
2002 | 18 | GEELONG | KANGAROOS | KARDINIA PARK | Steve McBurney | Stuart Wenn | During the third quarter (ankle) |
2002 | 21 | ADELAIDE | RICHMOND | FOOTBALL PARK | Colin Rowston | Bryan Sheehan | During the second quarter (hamstring) |
2003 | 1 | KANGAROOS | ST.KILDA | M.C.G. | Shaun Ryan | Bryan Sheehan | At half-time (hamstring) |
2003 | 3 | WEST COAST | ST.KILDA | SUBIACO OVAL | David Shawcross (G) | Wayne Hendrie (G) | At half-time (knee) |
2003 | 17 | BRISBANE | PORT ADELAIDE | GABBA | Matt Lee-Archer | Gavin Dore | During the third quarter (calf) |
2003 | 18 | GEELONG | COLLINGWOOD | DOCKLANDS | Corin Rowe | Bryan Sheehan | At half-time (hamstring) |
2004 | 6 | KANGAROOS | WESTERN BULLDOGS | MANUKA OVAL | Shaun Ryan | Gavin Dore | During the second quarter (broken leg) |
2004 | 6 | GEELONG | ADELAIDE | KARDINIA PARK | Brett Rosebury | Stefan Grun | At three-quarter-time (shoulder - the result of a collision) |
2004 | 9 | ST.KILDA | WEST COAST | DOCKLANDS | Scott McLaren | Michael Avon | During the first quarter (dislocated elbow) |
2004 | 14 | WESTERN BULLDOGS | FREMANTLE | DOCKLANDS | Hayden Kennedy | Stefan Grun | At half-time (hamstring) |
2004 | 16 | RICHMOND | ST.KILDA | DOCKLANDS | Darren Morris | Darren Goldspink | For 1 minute in the third quarter (blood rule) |
2004 | 21 | COLLINGWOOD | PORT ADELAIDE | M.C.G. | Anthony Black (G) | Steven Stirling (G) | At half-time ( groin) |
2005 | 2 | WEST COAST | GEELONG | SUBIACO OVAL | Craig Hendrie | Dean Margetts | During the third quarter (hamstring) |
2005 | 4 | ST. KILDA | MELBOURNE | DOCKLANDS | Darren Morris | Keiron Nicholls | During the third quarter (knee) |
2005 | 5 | ESSENDON | COLLINGWOOD | M.C.G. | David Flegg (G) | Alf Galea (G) | At half time (groin) |
2005 | 17 | BRISBANE LIONS | ESSENDON | GABBA | Matt Lee-Archer | Darren Morris | At three-quarter time (groin) |
2006 | 14 | CARLTON | GEELONG | DOCKLANDS | Chris Donlon | Martin Ellis | During the third quarter (calf) |
2006 | 15 | ESSENDON | ST.KILDA | M.C.G. | Mathew Head | Craig Hendrie | At half time (hamstring) |
2006 | 18 | SYDNEY | ESSENDON | S.C.G. | James Savage (G) | Sergio Villagra (G) | At three quarter-time (hamstring) |
2006 | 19 | HAWTHORN | CARLTON | M.C.G. | Colin Hood (G) | David Dixon (G) | At quarter-time (ribs) |
2006 | 22 | COLLINGWOOD | KANGAROOS | M.C.G. | Kieron Nicholls | Matt James | At three-quarter time (groin) |
2007 | 10 | WEST COAST | KANGAROOS | SUBIACO OVAL | Luke Farmer | Matt Nicholls | At three-quarter time (hip) |
2007 | 13 | ADELAIDE | WEST COAST | FOOTBALL PARK | Matt Stevic | Matt James | At half time (calf) |
2008 | 1 | WEST COAST | BRISBANE | SUBIACO OVAL | Todd Keating | Craig Hendrie | At three-quarter time (hamstring) |
2008 | 13 | MELBOURNE | SYDNEY | MANUKA OVAL | Michael Avon | Stefan Grun | At half time (hip) |
2008 | 15 | HAWTHORN | SYDNEY | M.C.G. | Martin Ellis | Damien Sully | During the final quarter (ankle) |
2008 | 18 | WESTERN BULLDOGS | SYDNEY | MANUKA OVAL | Michael Avon | Matt Nicholls | For half of the second quarter (collision). Nicholls resumed after half time. |
2008 | 21 | WESTERN BULLDOGS | ESSENDON | DOCKLANDS | Chris Kamolins | Craig Hendrie | At quarter-time (calf ) |
2009 | 1 | PORT ADELAIDE | ESSENDON | FOOTBALL PARK | Sam Hay | Scott Jeffery | During the final quarter (calf) |
2009 | 4 | RICHMOND | MELBOURNE | M.C.G. | Scott McLaren | Stuart Wenn | During the second quarter |
2009 | 8 | COLLINGWOOD | CARLTON | M.C.G. | Jeff Dalgleish | Stefan Grun | During the first quarter (ankle) |
2009 | 11 | BRISBANE | CARLTON | GABBA | Shane Stewart | Jason Armstrong | During third quarter (foot - stress fracture) |
2010 | 13 | CARLTON | FREMANTLE | DOCKLANDS | Shane Stewart | Chris Donlon | During the third quarter (collision) |
2010 | 14 | GEELONG | NORTH MELBOURNE | SKILLED STADIUM | Heath Ryan | Damien Sully | During the final quarter (leg) |
2011 | 1 | ESSENDON | WESTERN BULLDOGS | DOCKLANDS | Matt Leppard | Luke Farmer | At three-quarter time (hamstring) |
2011 | 3 | WEST COAST | SYDNEY | SUBIACO OVAL | Dale Edwick (G) | Adam Peacock (G) | At half- time (groin) |
2011 | 17 | BRISBANE | GEELONG | GABBA | Ben Ryan | Hayden Kennedy | During the first quarter (hamstring) |
2012 | 3 | RICHMOND | MELBOURNE | M.C.G. | Heath Ryan | Jason Armstrong | During the third quarter (ankle) |
2012 | 5 | RICHMOND | WEST COAST | DOCKLANDS | Tristan Burgess | Jason Armstrong | At half-time (illness) |
2012 | 6 | ESSENDON | BRISBANE | DOCKLANDS | Scott Jeffery | Stefan Grun | At half-time (concussion- effects of player collision) |
2012 | 10 | FREMANTLE | ADELAIDE | SUBIACO OVAL | Jeff Dalgleish | Troy Pannell | At quarter-time (illness-fever) |
2013 | 2 | WESTERN BULLDOGS | FREMANTLE | DOCKLANDS | Chris Appleton (G) | Courtney Lai (G) | During the third quarter (knee) |
2013 | 2 | COLLINGWOOD | CARLTON | M.C.G. | Tristan Burgess | Scott Jeffery | At half-time (calf) |
2013 | 23 | GEELONG | BRISBANE | KARDINIA PARK | David Harris | Chris Kamolins | At halftime (concussion) |
2014 | 3 | NORTH MELBOURNE | PORT ADELAIDE | DOCKLANDS | Andrew Talbot | Jason Armstrong | During second quarter (hamstring - result of collision) |
2014 | 3 | ESSENDON | CARLTON | M.C.G. | Nick Foot | Justin Schmitt | During the first quarter (calf) |
2014 | 3 | GREATER WESTERN SYDN | MELBOURNE | SYDNEY SHOWGROUNDS | Rob O'Gorman | Ben Ryan | During the final quarter (ankle - player stood on foot) |
2014 | 8 | ST.KILDA | CARLTON | DOCKLANDS | Scott Jeffery | Jordan Bannister | During first quarter (calf) |
2014 | 9 | ESSENDON | SYDNEY | DOCKLANDS | Tristan Burgess | Troy Pannell | During the third quarter (concussion - collision) |
2014 | 12 | PORT ADELAIDE | ST.KILDA | ADELAIDE OVAL | Curtis Deboy | Chris Donlon | During the first quarter (collision). Donlon resumed after five minutes. |
2014 | 13 | SYDNEY | PORT ADELAIDE | S.C.G. | Brent Pawley | Simon Meredith | During the final quarter (brain haemorrhage ) |
2014 | 13 | WEST COAST | GOLD COAST | SUBIACO | Matt Adams | Matt Leppard | During the third quarter (hamstring). Leppard resumed shortly after. |
2014 | 16 | NORTH MELBOURNE | HAWTHORN | DOCKLANDS | Matt Leppard | Chris Kamolins | Three-quarter time (calf) |
2014 | 19 | COLLINGWOOD | PORT ADELAIDE | M.C.G. | Leigh Haussen | Scott Jeffery | During the final quarter (calf) |
2015 | 19 | ST.KILDA | FREMANTLE | DOCKLANDS | Matt Stevic | Shane McInerney | At half-time (groin) |
2015 | 21 | COLLINGWOOD | RICHMOND | M.C.G. | Matt Stevic | Chris Donlon | At three-quarter time (groin) |
2016 | 4 | BRISBANE | GOLD COAST | GABBA | James Waldorff | Ray Chamberlain | At half-time (heel) |
2016 | 22 | GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY | FREMANTLE | SYDNEY SHOWGROUNDS | Liam Rowe | Scott Jeffery | At half-time (hamstring) |
2017 | 8 | ADELAIDE | MELBOURNE | ADELAIDE OVAL | Rowan Hundertmark | Craig Fleer | During the second quarter (concussion) |
2017 | 8 | NORTH MELBOURNE | SYDNEY | DOCKLANDS | Leigh Haussen | Troy Pannell | During the second quarter (hamstring) |
2017 | 10 | MELBOURNE | GOLD COAST | ALICE SPRINGS | Dylan Benwell (G) | Luke Walker (G) | During the first quarter (blood-struck by ball) |
2017 | 22 | CARLTON | HAWTHORN | DOCKLANDS | Curtis Deboy | Andrew Stephens | At three-quarter time (calf) |
2018 | 3 | SYDNEY | GWS | S.C.G. | Cameron Barr | Troy Pannell | During the final quarter (hamstring) |
2018 | 4 | GEELONG | ST.KILDA | KARDINIA PARK | David Harris | Andrew Stephens | During the final quarter (calf) |
2018 | 9 | ESSENDON | GEELONG | M.C.G. | Nathan Williamson | Justin Schmitt | During the second quarter (hamstring) |
2018 | 16 | ESSENDON | COLLINGWOOD | M.C.G. | Scott Jeffery | Nick Foot | At half-time (calf) |
2018 | 18 | PORT ADELAIDE | GWS GIANTS | ADELAIDE OVAL | Lewis Giles | Andre Gianfagna | During the third quarter (calf) |
2019 | 19 | PORT ADELAIDE | GWS GIANTS | ADELAIDE OVAL | Jamie Broadbent | Leigh Fisher | During the second quarter (calf) |
2019 | 22 | FREMANTLE | ESSENDON | PERTH STADIUM | Dan Johanson | Alex Whetton | During the second quarter (concussion) |
2020 | 3 | FREMANTLE | PORT ADELAIDE | CARARRA | Dean Margetts | David Harris | During the final quarter (hamstring) |
2021 | 3 | NORTH MELBOURNE | WESTERN BULLDOGS | DOCKLAND | Cameron Dore | Andre Gianfagna | During the final quarter (hamstring) |
2021 | 7 | RICHMOND | WESTERN BULLDOGS | M.C.G. | Eleni Glouftsis | David Harris | During the first quarter (calf) |
2021 | 9 | RICHMOND | GWS GIANTS | DOCKLANDS | Luke Edwards (G) | Adam Wojcik | During the final quarter (shoulder - result of a collision) |
2021 | 10 | GEELONG | GOLD COAST | KARDINIA PARK | Nick Jankovskis | Nick Foot | At half-time (calf) |
2021 | 21 | RICHMOND | NORTH MELBOURNE | M.C.G. | Michael Pell | Hayden Gavine | During the third quarter (concussion test- collision). Gavine resumed after 13 minutes. |
2022 | 10 | ADELAIDE | ST.KILDA | ADELAIDE OVAL | Giles Lewis | David Harris | During the pre-match warm-up |