Week two of the finals always throws up some interesting ins and outs. Grand final umpires in the past two years, Simon Meredith and Mathew Nicholls find themselves sitting on the benches this week as emergency umpires. History would suggest that their seasons may well be over.
It leaves Brett Rosebury, Ray Chamberlain and Matt Stevic as the only three remaining umpires with grand final experience. Of the other three remaining Jeff Dalgleish has the least finals experience with 2 finals, both Scott Jeffery and Dean Margetts have eight finals each.
On the boundary it is apparent that some big names have been rested this week. Burrows, Doig, Creasey, Gordon and Marantelli are all grand final umpires who are missing this weekend. Matthew Tomkins, Rob Haala and Michael Saunders are the only umpires running the boundary this week with grand final experience. Chris Bull and Matthew Jenkinson who debuted last weekend get another opportunity. Evergreen John Morris goes into his 20th final and 305th game looking for that elusive first grand final.
Three of the four appointed goal umpires this weekend have significant finals and grand finals experience. Luke Walker enters his 32nd final including 6 grand finals, David Dixon 31 finals and 6 grand finals join Adam Wojcik 16 finals and 1 grand final and Stephen Williams who has worked hard get into his 6th final. Debutant Brodie Kenny-Bell sits as the emergency goal umpire this week as does, Chris Appleton who was the All Australian goal umpire last season.