10 AFL umpires have earned the prestigious honour of officiating Saturday's 2024 AFL Grand Final, with the league announcing the lineup Wednesday morning ahead of the big game.
Veterans Matt Stevic and Simon Meredith are both lining up for their 499th AFL games, both set to reach the half-century to open 2025 home & away proceedings.
Stevic will feature in the final match of the year for his 11th straight occasion, marking his 12th grand final appearance and 59th final.
Meredith will surpass 50 finals matches umpired this Saturday when he lines up for his ninth grand final, having debuted in 2004.
Nick Foot will feature in his first ever AFL grand final following a 238-game career beginning in 2012. It will be the eighth final of his career.
The umpiring panel for the 2024 Toyota AFL Grand Final has been announced. https://t.co/6KPoyMCBvk
— AFL (@AFL) September 25, 2024
Craig Fleer is the other field umpire to take centre stage, marking his second grand final and 228th match.
Matt Tomkins, Matthew Konetschka, Michael Barlow and Daniel Field-Read were lucky enough to be named the boundary umpires for the big day, while Matt Dervan and Sam Walsh get the gig behind the goals.
Andrew Stephens, Damien Main and Steven Piperno have been named the emergencies, Piperno having returned from his head injury suffered in the shocking bottle-throwing incident at Marvel Stadium last month.
"Nick, Matt, Simon and Craig have performed outstandingly this season and their appointment to the 2024 AFL Grand Final is a testament to their hard work," AFL football boss Laura Kane said.
"I also want to congratulate each boundary and goal umpire selected and thank every umpire who has officiated in the AFL this season.
"From our timekeepers and interchange stewards to our shot clock operator, umpire trainers, match managers, ARC officials and ball stewards the biggest game on the footballing calendar does not happen without all your hard work."
