In 2011 DDFUA Umpire Cameron Peggs had a stellar season, being rewarded with the Rising Star Award and the DDFUA's nomination to umpire at the AFL Grand Final. Cameron was chosen out of all the WA nominees and had the amazing opportunity to umpire an Auskick game at half-time during the AFL Grand Final. This is Cameron's recollections of his trip and experiences.

On the 24^th August 2011 I received a phone call from Paul Pitchers, Junior Community Umpire Manager, saying that I was the winner of the Green Shirt Umpire nomination and was off to the 2011 Toyota AFL Grand Final to umpire a grid game at half time.  I couldn’t believe what he was telling me so asked him to repeat it and yes I had heard right, I was going to the AFL Grand Final and was going to be out on the MCG umpiring in front of thousands of people – AMAZING. 

DAY 1

We, my Dad and I, left Perth at 9.15am, after a short stopover in Adelaide to refuel saw us arrive in Melbourne at 3.50pm, It was cold and wet as normal, we collected our luggage and hopped onto the bus and headed for the hotel, Holiday Inn on Flinders.

After a quick change and freshen up it was off to the welcome dinner at Othello’s Restaurant Southbank to meet the co-ordinators and fellow Green Shirt umpires from around Australia.  It was a pleasant evening and we were made to feel most welcome.  There was heaps of food but I wasn’t very hungry as I got fed twice on the plane on the way over.

DAY 2

Up at 7.30am and off to the buffet breakfast downstairs, ate heaps as had a big day ahead.  We all met in the Hotel lobby at 10.00am and walked out and caught the tram to the meeting point for the AFL Grand Final Parade. 

We were met by AFL officials and they took us to a room to meet the umpires, that’s where I had my photo taken with Brett Rosebury (former DDFUA Umpire) and Dyson Heppell (NAB Rising Star), we then walked back to the meeting point and got into line for the parade.  We were first in the parade along with the Auskicker children, and then followed the State Volunteers of the year, Premiership Cup Ambassador – Brett Kirk, NAB Rising Star – Dyson Heppell, Brownlow Medallist – Dane Swan, Coleman Medallist – Lance Franklin, Umpires and then the two teams in the back of utes.  The crowd was amazing, 100,000 plus people.  The parade was 1.5km long but didn’t seem that long as I was busy looking around and taking in all the excitement.  At the end of the parade all players were presented up on the stage along with the AFL Premiership Cup and the two coaches.

After the parade had finished we went to the National Sports Museum at the MCG.  This a great place to visit as you get to see all the Australian sporting history and achievements of our sporting heroes.

Then it was a dinner on the way back to the hotel and an early night as Day 3 was the BIG day I had been waiting for.

DAY 3

Another big buffet breakfast.  We decided to do some sightseeing as we didn’t need to be at the MCG until 12.00.  So on the tram Dad and I hopped, sightseeing we went. Then we caught another tram to the MCG where we met the other umpires and AFL Officials, we entered the MCG together.  We had good seats ground level in the pocket, City end.  We got to see all the entertainment before the game started, it was all so well done and exciting.  At the end of the first quarter all the Green Shirt Umpires were taken down to the Auskick rooms and got changed; we got our teams together and then at half time entered onto the MCG to start the grid games. I thought the crowd at the parade was loud but oh boy it was amazing, 99,500 plus people all cheering and shouting.  I had to blow the whistle really hard and shout so the Auskickers could hear me. At the end of half time we all went back into the change rooms, changed and then we went back to our seats to enjoy the rest of the AFL Grand Final.  It was a very exciting game but not the result I was hoping for but nevertheless I was there to watch my mighty magpies play in their third Grand Final in two years.

DAY 4

Feeling very tired but still very excited, it was our last day and we could do whatever we wanted to.  Melbourne was still very much celebrating the Grand Final and there were people everywhere.  We got the chance to meet up with some friends that live in Melbourne so we went out for lunch and did some shopping and then headed for the Airport.

It was an awesome trip and the opportunity of a lifetime. I will remember and treasure this experience forever.  I would like to thank DDFUA for giving me this opportunity and especially Wayne Wendt and Daniel Gibbons for all their support, mentoring and for believing in me.  I really enjoy umpiring and will continue to do so for many years to come.  The AFL are to be thanked and congratulated for the organisation of the weekend, it was well done.  I would also like thank my Dad and Mum for their support and driving me to training and all my umpiring duties.

Well done to Cameron from all at the DDFUA.