Junior umpires on MCG

Henry, a Pennant Hills junior player and Sydney Harbour first year umpire, was selected to represent NSW/ACT as a Green Shirt Umpire on Grand Final Day. He walked in the Grand Final Parade on the Friday before the match, and then officiated the half-time Auskick matches in front of a sold-out crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Here Henry writes about his once in a lifetime experience in Melbourne:

To be given the opportunity to head down to Melbourne to watch the 2014 Grand Final was very exciting. I walked in the Grand Final Parade and umpired the half-time Auskick on the MCG.
 
Walking in the parade was a once in a lifetime opportunity and something I will never forget. The atmosphere was great and over 100,000 people turned up.
 
The buildup and the hype leading up to the Grand Final was amazing. Prior to the game, in the morning my dad and I walked down to Federation Square to embrace the excitement for the big game.
 
Then it was time to head off to the “G” and get our seats in time for the game. Being a Sydney supporter it was great in the early stages of the game but obviously disappointing in the end, but it was such a great experience to head into the change rooms and walk onto the hallow turf of the MCG. In front of 99,000 fans the noise was high and the Auskickers going nuts. It was an amazing experience.
 
In 2015 I will continue to umpire and earn more great experiences to umpire. I thank AFL/NSW for the opportunity to go to Melbourne for the AFL Grand Final.

For more photos of Henry visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/aflnswact