A number of former AFL stars have appeared in SFL matches in recent years, most notably Glenn Archer, the premiership winning Kangaroo who made a cameo appearance at Lyndale a couple of years ago. However, the best credentialed AFL star to ever participate in an SFL match took the field at Mordialloc last Saturday. Former AFL Field Umpire, Stephen ‘Jack’ McBurney, a veteran of 400 AFL senior games, four AFL Grand Finals, and twice named AFL All Australian umpire, joined up and coming field umpires Luke Porter and Alan Glenton on the field as they took control of the Div 2 match of the day. Jack, who umpired his last AFL match at Kardinia Park last August, showed he hadn’t lost his change of pace, being adjacent to every contest. He was also seen passing on his knowledge to his young colleagues at each quarter break.
The youthful umpiring team, which also included Adam Obleshuk, and Zac Van den Hoven in goal, along with four boundary umpires: Matthew Crowley, Anthony Embleton, Simon O’Loughlin and Jack Rositani will never forget the day they shared a panel with an AFL legend.
