The trip of a life time started on the Thursday of Grand Final week when we flew down to Melbourne mid morning. After a few delays at the airport, we went to a welcome dinner at Othello’s Restaurant where I had the opportunity to meet the other green shirt umpires nominated to go to Melbourne. The Friday morning was amazing, the rain had disappeared for the first time during the week. I had the privilege of leading the Grand Final Parade with the Auskickers and I didn’t need a jumper. Before the parade we met the Grand Final Umpires and talk to them about the weekend ahead. During the parade it was unreal, I have never seen so many people on the streets of Melbourne before, there were people on statues, steps, windows, balconies and even scaffolding. It was so fun walking with the Auskickers, by the end of the parade they were exhausted and weren’t going to walk much further. We sat on the steps of the Old Treasury Building with the Auskickers as the rest of the parade came in, it was awesome. The rest of the day we walked around Melbourne looking at all the Grand Final merchandise at Fed Square. There were queues miles long for free footballs.
Grand Final day came and I double checked I had all my gear, 2 whistles, shirt, shorts, socks, shoes. We walked to the game and got drowned, so everything was wet before we started. Being at the Grand Final was like a dream, yet alone being able to walk out on the ground. The atmosphere was unbelievable with some 99,537 people in the stands. While getting changed I debated how many layers of clothes I would need and whether I should wear a raincoat. I didn’t, and I am glad I didn’t because the sun came out for the second time during the trip right on half time. To umpire the Auskickers wasn’t difficult as long as they all got to touch the footy it didn’t matter what the rules were. We all had a heap of fun. After getting changed back out of the umpiring uniform we were ready to go back upstairs. The Auskickers were long gone and it was a bit of a guessing game getting through the MCG with its locked doors. It wasn’t easy. We got back to our seats by about 10 minutes through the third quarter and watched the game unfold into a great game. Sunday was something unusual. We only saw 2 people wearing Collingwood gear.
The whole trip was awesome and I hope I can get a chance again but seeing as it’s a green shirt award, the only other way I’m going to do it again is by going to the top.
Story Written by AFL Brisbane Junior Umpire Chris Jardine
Last Modified on 20/10/2011 12:45