Athletes always remember their professional debut. It’s no different for umpires. For veteran AFL umpire Simon Meredith, his first game – Carlton versus North Melbourne in 2004 – was a close match at the MCG in front of 36,273 fans. He remembers the first free kick he paid.

Meredith has umpired 422 games (and counting), including 39 finals and six grand finals. But in a wide-ranging discussion on life as an AFL umpire he says it’s incredibly tough and demanding in a way few people see. In this episode he talks with Good Weekend senior writer Konrad Marshall, the author of “R.E.S.P.E.C.T”, our cover story looking at umpiring in an era of abuse.

You can read Konrad's story here. 

Become a subscriber: our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Becoming a subscriber also gets you exclusive behind-the-scenes content and invitations to special events. Click on the links to subscribe https://subscribe.theage.com.au/ or https://subscribe.smh.com.au/

Athletes always remember their professional debut. It&rsquo;s no different for umpires. For veteran AFL umpire Simon Meredith, his first game &ndash; Carlton versus North Melbourne in 2004 &ndash; was a close match at the MCG in front of 36,273 fans. He remembers the first free kick he paid.
Meredith has umpired 422 games (and counting), including 39 finals and six grand finals. But in a wide-ranging discussion on life as an AFL umpire he says it&rsquo;s incredibly tough and demanding in a way few people see. In this episode he talks with&nbsp;Good Weekend&nbsp;senior writer Konrad Marshall, the author of &ldquo;R.E.S.P.E.C.T&rdquo;, our cover story looking at umpiring in an era of abuse.
You can read Konrad's story&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/it-was-tolerated-back-then-and-it-won-t-be-now-the-umpires-fighting-back-20220408-p5ac3j.html?ignorePublicState=true&amp;pcrypt=aGZyZT13aHl2bi5wbmVlLXBuZ21yeUBzbnZlc25renJxdm4ucGJ6Lm5oJmd2enJmZ256Yz0xNjUyMzI5NDY5" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.smh.com.au/national/it-was-tolerated-back-then-and-it-won-t-be-now-the-umpires-fighting-back-20220408-p5ac3j.html?ignorePublicState%3Dtrue%26pcrypt%3DaGZyZT13aHl2bi5wbmVlLXBuZ21yeUBzbnZlc25renJxdm4ucGJ6Lm5oJmd2enJmZ256Yz0xNjUyMzI5NDY5&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1652482931527000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3heFW6Mupn8DEh0ZF9sZwH">here</a>.&nbsp;
Become a subscriber: our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Becoming a subscriber also gets you exclusive behind-the-scenes content and invitations to special events. Click on the links to subscribe&nbsp;<a href="https://subscribe.theage.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://subscribe.theage.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1652482931527000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ymQ8PkUGN8cZ2eKQVDDuK">https://subscribe.theage.com.au/</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://subscribe.smh.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://subscribe.smh.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1652482931527000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2L42L0-bzIdTrb0zINtXe7">https://subscribe.smh.com.au/</a>

Good Weekend Talks features in-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now, from sport to politics to the arts, business and beyond, interviewed weekly by the country's top journalists. Consider it a magazine for your ears.

Good Weekend Talks features in-depth conversations with the people fascinating Australians right now, from sport to politics to the arts, business and beyond, interviewed weekly by the country's top journalists. Consider it a magazine for your ears.

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