Three of the AFL’s most experienced umpires will take charge of Adelaide’s Preliminary Final against Geelong on Friday night.
Brett Rosebury, Matt Stevic and Justin Schmitt, who boast more than 1,000 games of AFL umpiring experience between them, will be on duty in Friday night’s blockbuster at Adelaide Oval.
Rosebury is the second-most capped umpire on the AFL’s current roster behind only veteran Shane McInerney. He’s umpired 371 matches and 39 finals, including Adelaide’s Qualifying Final win over Greater Western Sydney in the opening week of this year’s finals series.
Rosebury will break the AFL record for the most finals umpired with his 40th appearance in the major round this Friday night.
Schmitt has officiated 349 AFL games while Stevic has 329 matches to his name - but has featured in more finals (31 to Schmitt’s 14).
Preliminary Final preview: Crows v Cats
Brendan Hosking is the emergency umpire in his sixth season in the AFL umpiring system.
Matthew Nicholls (307 games), Simon Meredith (313) and Shaun Ryan (279) will officiate Saturday’s twilight final between Richmond and Greater Western Sydney.
FINALS WEEK THREE UMPIRING APPOINTMENTS
Adelaide v Geelong at Adelaide Oval
Field umpires: Brett Rosebury, Matt Stevic, Justin Schmitt (EMG Brendan Hosking)
Boundary umpires: Robert Haala, Mark Thomson, Brett Dalgleish, Nathan Doig
Goal umpires: Stephen Williams, Luke Walker (EMG Daniel Wilson)
Richmond v Greater Western Sydney at the MCG
Field umpires: Matthew Nicholls, Simon Meredith, Shaun Ryan (EMG Ray Chamberlain)
Boundary umpires: Mitchell Lefevre, Matthew Konetschka, Damien Cusack, Christopher Gordon
Goal umpires: Matthew Dervan, Adam Wojcik, (EMG Chris Appleton)
