The AFL is pleased to announce the umpiring panel for the 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs, to be played at Optus Stadium this Saturday, September 25.
Brett Rosebury, Matt Stevic and Jacob Mollison have been selected as the field umpires with Simon Meredith named as the emergency.
The 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final will see Rosebury and Stevic officiate in their ninth Toyota AFL Grand Finals respectively, while it is Mollison’s first ever AFL Grand Final.
Boundary umpire Michael Barlow will officiate in his first ever Toyota AFL Grand Final and will be joined by Michael Marantelli (four AFL Grand Finals), Christopher Gordon (four AFL Grand Finals) and Matthew Konetschka (three AFL Grand Finals). The emergency boundary umpire is Ben Macdonald.
The goal umpires will be Steven Axon and Stephen Williams. Sam Walsh has been named as the emergency goal umpire.
AFL Head of Umpiring Dan Richardson congratulated each umpire after their selection was finalised.
“Brett, Matt and Jacob have performed consistently across the entire season and fully deserve their selection in what is an historic Toyota AFL Grand Final in Perth,” Mr. Richardson said.
“I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate each boundary and goal umpire selected for the 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final and thank every umpire who officiated AFL football this season.
“It has been yet another challenging season for everyone in the football and the wider community and I want to acknowledge the professionalism and commitment from each umpire and their families this season."
AFL Umpires Head Coach Michael Jennings said he was proud of every umpire on the AFL list and congratulated those appointed to the biggest game of the season.
“I want to firstly say thank you to every single AFL umpire and their families for their selflessness over the course of the past two seasons,” Mr. Jennings said.
“The ongoing pandemic has meant it has been an incredibly challenging couple of years for many people in the community and our umpires are no different, however, their love for the game and commitment to keep the AFL and AFLW competitions going for supporters to enjoy is something I have been incredibly proud of.
“The umpires selected in the 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final have been incredibly resilient and have performed consistently across the course of this season and I congratulate each of them on their achievements.
“Brett (field) and Matt (field) are umpiring in their ninth Grand Finals, respectively, while Jacob (field) and Michael (boundary) will do their first.”
Key information:
- Field umpire Brett Rosebury, who was born in Western Australia, has served quarantine in every state across the course of this season, including a six-week block in New South Wales and Queensland.
- Field umpire Matt Stevic has been selected to umpire in his eighth-straight Toyota AFL Grand Final. He and his wife are expecting their second child within the coming weeks.
- Field umpire Jacob Mollison will officiate in his first-ever Toyota AFL Grand Final. Jacob spent a total of eight weeks on the road away from his family during the home-and-away season; three weeks in Queensland and five weeks in Western Australia.
- Boundary umpire Michael Barlow, who will officiate in his first-ever Toyota AFL Grand Final, has been away from home for 91 days. Barlow departed his home in Sydney on June 22, 2021 and due to border restrictions has been unable to return home.
Please see below the career statistics of each umpire appointed to the 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final, including the boundary and goal umpires.
Field Umpires:
Brett Rosebury: 8
Debut: 2000
Games: 457
Finals: 46
Grand Finals: 8 – 2009, 2010 (and 2010 replay), 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2018
All Australian: 3 – 2008, 2009 and 2011
AFLUA Umpire of the Year – 2008, 2009
Matt Stevic: 9
Debut: 2004
Games: 426
Finals: 48
Grand Finals: 8 – 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020
All Australian: 7 – 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020
Jacob Mollison: 32
Debut: 2008
Games: 281
Finals: 7
First AFL Grand Final
Emergency:
Simon Meredith: 21
Debut: 2004
Games: 414
Finals: 39
Grand Finals: 6 – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2020
Boundary Umpires:
Michael Barlow
Games: 65
Finals: 2
First AFL Grand Final
Michael Marantelli
Games: 261
Finals: 27
Grand Finals: 4
Christopher Gordon
Games: 301
Finals: 31
Grand Finals: 4
Matthew Konetschka
Games: 212
Finals: 24
Grand Finals: 3
Emergency:
Ben Macdonald
Games: 99
Finals: 3
First AFL Grand Final
Goal Umpires:
Steven Axon
Games: 269
Finals: 18
Grand Finals: 2
Stephen Williams
Games: 225
Finals: 19
Grand Final: 1
Emergency:
Sam Walsh
Games: 71
Finals: 4
First AFL Grand Final