However, at state level we are treated to something a bit different, but equally as exciting – golden point. There has been no shortage of golden point Grand Finals in recent years, with the 2012 TAC Cup, 2013 and 2015 Development League Grand Finals all requiring the timekeeper to hold their horses as the clock hit zero. Ahead of Sunday’s TAC Cup decider, the VFUA speaks to a few people who have been there before.

2012 TAC Cup Grand Final
Cyrus Wong – scoring goal umpire
Michael Richardson – emergency goal umpire
Tim Carlos – field umpire

2013 Development League Grand Final
Dean Jones – scoring goal umpire
Steve Piperno – non-scoring goal umpire
Simon Plumridge – emergency goal umpire

2015 Development League Grand Final
Callum Leonard – non-scoring goal umpire
Sam Walsh – emergency goal umpire
Tim Carlos – field umpire (again!)

The reality is that the concept of golden point can be daunting for emergency goal umpires. It throws up one in a million what-if scenarios that blow the mind. In 2013 the timekeepers couldn’t help but repeat the permutations over and over – “Don’t blow the siren if it’s a tie”… “ If someone’s having a shot and it could be tied, don’t blow the siren”… “If someone’s having a shot, but it won’t end in a tie, we still blow the siren… don’t we?”

“I found myself walking around the box unable to stand still!… My hands were shaking. There was so much tension in and around the ground in the final minutes,” Sam recalls of last weekend. Not surprisingly, given the margin was a very golden-point-safe 9 points with only a handful of minutes remaining, only for 3 shots to move Box Hill within a point, before having another shot – surely this time for glory. It missed, and golden point time ensued.

It is interesting to get a feel for how different umpiring roles lead to varying levels of awareness of the game situation. “Before the start of the match we were actually talking about how golden point occurred in 2013 between the same teams and joked about it happening again. From the second quarter onwards the match was pretty close so I was actually thinking about it most of the game,” Callum said. “Once the clock ticked over 30 minutes I think everyone knew,” he added. ‘Everyone’ included Tim, who despite being in control of much of the play at this time was able to sneak a peek at the scoreboard. However this wasn’t the case in the 2012 TAC Cup Grand Final, where being in the play distracted him from the game situation. “I honestly had not even looked up at the score board or seen the time because I had the play towards the end… I was just focused on keeping up with the play and getting in the right position.”

In 2013, the golden point situation was a lot more obvious. “38 minutes!” was Steve’s reply when asked how long the last quarter went for. This seemed to only add to the intensity of the spectacle, however. “It was one of the most incredibly tense 10 minutes of football I have been involved in. Every kick, every tackle, ever handball was so completely frantic. The crowd were reacting with every moment of play. The ball was circling in the centre square for what felt like an eternity, there were few rushes forward only for the ball to be hurried back into the middle of the ground. Both teams had chances.”

In the box, Simon’s interpretation of events was similar. “I was amazed at how many chances each team had to win the game. Both teams had multiple forward 50 entries, and there were moments where the game looked like it would end- only for player fatigue to cause a missed pass, or for acts of desperation from members of both teams to cause the match to continue. Lunging spoils, desperate smothers and huge tackles, with fans screaming at every contest, were features of these final, tied minutes. Players were throwing anything and everything into each contest. I can just remember thinking – neither team deserves to lose here.”

Dean had the winning play in that match, and considers one of those on in a million scenarios. “A long kick towards goal from the 50 metre line headed towards the behind post with a Box Hill defender in prime position to take a game saving mark. The ball slipped through his hands and rolled towards the behind line close to the behind post. With myself positioned on line in the goals, l remember thinking to myself as l watched the ball roll over the behind line has that brushed the inside of the behind post? As l didn’t have any evidence of the ball hitting the behind post l began to signal the game winning behind. As soon as l had signalled the behind the siren sounded, confirming that we were in golden score time. I couldn’t imagine the confusion that would have reigned if a field umpire blew his whistle to indicate that he saw the ball hit the behind post with the siren sounding.”

It’s a scenario Sam was keen to avoid on Saturday. “I remember telling the timekeeper to wait until the flag was waved which he didn’t listen to and went to push it after the signal… I had to be stern with him and tell him he needed to wait for the flag.” Cool heads are always required in such hysteric moments.

For everyone involved, though, it seems the apparent uniqueness of the match’s ending didn’t influence their overall feeling about what was, ultimately, a Grand Final. For Cyrus, Callum, Simon and Tim it was also their first Grand Final at state level. While they were involved in something memorable, the memory is also that it marked a culmination of 12 months hard work to achieve. More than that though, appreciating these opportunities is a key to enjoying umpiring.

“Any game can be your last,” said Michael, the emergency goal umpire in 2012, who retired a few months following that Grand Final. “All Grand Finals are something to be cherished and enjoyed. For myself it was a little more relaxed being the emergency, but in the end it also proved to be my last game at VFL level and I reflect upon this quite often, especially when talking to community groups about taking every game in your stride and not to dismiss any opportunity.”

Michael knows that sometimes you don’t realise the significance of what you’ve been involved in until after it’s over. Tim noted, “After leaving the ground, I was a bit shocked to be honest. That it has happened again! Not just with me, but also for the two clubs.”

For different reasons, Cyrus agreed, realising some of the protagonists in 2012 had ‘kicked on’. “It was great to run with Anthony Kyrkou, who came to VFL the same year as me, as well as Tim Carlos, who’s a really good mate of mine, and Jack Edwards, whom I umpired with locally when he was only fifteen. Like Jack has done in umpiring, the players who have kicked on from that day (e.g. Jack Macrae, Jack Billings) also made the game one worth remembering.”

So for the panel of umpires taking charge of this year’s TAC Cup Grand Final, be aware that something special may just happen. It is not as rare an occurrence as you might think!

TAC Cup Grand Final
Eastern Ranges v Oakleigh Chargers
Sunday September 27, 11:05am
Etihad Stadium