Central Coast umpire’s Grand Final day
By Alison Zell
Young Central Coast umpire Charlotte Craine had the experience of a lifetime on Grand Final day when the 11-year-old got the chance to umpire a pre-match Auskick game in front of a packed MCG.
Craine, who started umpiring with the AFL GSJ Central Coast competition this year, was one of seven ‘Green Shirt’ umpires from across Australia to receive this unique opportunity.
The ‘Green Shirt’ program is designed for new umpires to help them learn and develop their skills and confidence through coaching and on field mentoring.
After playing AFL for a number of years with the Northern Lakes Power, Craine turned her hand to officiating and after regularly attended training, was nominated for this once in a lifetime Grand Final experience.
Accompanied by her mother Mindi, Craine flew to Melbourne and participated in the Grand Final Parade through the Melbourne CBD before umpiring an Auskick match on the hallowed turf of the MCG prior to the start of the AFL Grand Final.
Carl Fletcher, NSW/ACT Umpire Development Coordinator, said Craine’s involvement and dedication to umpiring made her a deserving winner.
“This trip was a just reward for both Charlotte and Mindi for their many years of involvement in AFL on the Central Coast,” Fletcher said.
“Both Charlotte and her mother Mindi had never been on a plane before this trip to Melbourne and had also never been to the MCG.”
Craine recorded her Grand Final experience and shared her amazing trip with us:
My AFL experience
By Charlotte Craine, Northern Lakes Power JAFC
Thursday:
Mum and I caught the plane to Melbourne. The plane was late so we didn’t board till 1.30pm and we got there at three o’clock.
We stayed at the Crowne Plaza hotel right on the Yarra River. On Thursday we had a welcome dinner at Othello’s restaurant to meet the other umpires from across Australia and Andrew Hughes and Sam Sheehan from AFL Victoria. On the way back to the hotel we saw the flame towers.
Friday:
Before the parade we went to Federation Square. All the umpires had a photo with Kevin Bartlett and I had a photo with Drew Petrie from the Kangaroos. While we were walking in the parade it was raining but at least we were wearing ponchos. We walked with the Auskickers and Big Dipper. People were banked all the way up to doorsteps and were watching from windows and balconies. At the presentation they had bands play the Swans and Hawks club songs. The players were inside cars then entered the old treasury building from the side then came out the front steps the Hawks came out from our left and Swans on the right.
After the parade mum and I went to the national sports museum. It had parts of basically any sport in there. There was a whole room full of old cricket bats, balls, antique plates and cups with cricket players on them, old cricket cards and a ladies cricket hat. We saw the Olympic torches and mascots we saw Ron Barassi’s golden boot, Shane Mumford’s big football boot and Cathy Freeman’s small shoe. All of downstairs was AFL stuff, the Brownlow medal was there, the old and new guernsey’s of all the clubs apart from the Giants was there. There was a section were there was games you could play like archery, handballing, kicking, cycling. It was fun and I learnt so much.
Saturday:
Waiting for the other umpires on Grand Final day I got our Swans guernsey signed and got a photo with Mitch Morton in our hotel lobby. While we were at the MCG they were doing sprints to see who was the fastest player in the sport. I hi-fived Patrick Dangerfield after he had won.
For the Auskick I shared a field with Allesandro from the Northern Territory. I had a blast umpiring them and watching them have fun. Watching the game was really fun. There was a lot more booing than at the SCG, ANZ or at SKODA all put together. The half time show was different and interesting. I enjoyed Paul Kelly and Tim Rogers.
Sunday:
On Sunday we had hours to kill before our flight. We explored the back alleys and graffiti lane, the national art gallery of Victoria. Melbourne is so different from Sydney. On the plane ride home we had small televisions. It took less than an hour to get back home.
I would like to thank Carl Fletcher and AFL NSW/ACT for such a wonderful experience.
