First SANFL Field Umpire to officiate in AFL Grand Final

By ZAC MILBANK

Experienced Field Umpire Craig Fleer will become the first South Australian Field Umpire to officiate in an AFL Grand Final on Saturday evening.

Fleer will be one of three Croweaters on the umpiring panel for the clash between Richmond and Geelong at the Gabba, with Matt Konestchka running the boundary and Steve Axon the emergency Goal Umpire.

After making his AFL debut in 2012, Fleer was forced to overcome the disappointment of being delisted at the end of 2014.

His 2015 SANFL campaign included winning the Golden Whistle Award, together with officiating in the SANFL v WAFL State Game and the 2015 SANFL Grand Final.

As a result, he found his way back onto the AFL Umpiring list in 2016 and as now logged 139 games at elite level, including four finals.

Fleer will have the honour of starting the 2020 AFL Grand Final by bouncing the ball at the first centre stoppage.

Konetschka, nearing his 200-game milestone, will be officiating in his third AFL Grand Final while if Axon receives a last minute call up, it will be his third appearance in a title-decider.

Field Umpire
Craig Fleer (No.26)
Debut: 2012
Games: 139
Finals: 4
First AFL Grand Final

Boundary Umpire
Matthew Konetschka
Games: 187
Finals: 21
Grand Finals: 2

Goal Umpire (Emergency)
Steven Axon
Games: 253
Finals: 16
Grand Finals: 2