Nicholls has umpired in the opening three weeks of the AFL finals series – including last weekend’s preliminary final between Hawthorn and Adelaide at the MCG.
He has now officiated in 176 AFL matches, including 25 this season, after making his debut in Round 2, 2003 in the St Kilda vs Adelaide game at Docklands.
Nicholls began umpiring in the Diamond Valley Football League in 1992 before moving to the VFL in 1999 where he umpired the 2002 Grand Final between Geelong and Port Melbourne before stepping up to the AFL.
He was a special guest at the NFL’s season launch in March this year, where he spoke of his time as an emerging umpire in the former DVFL.
“It absolutely was a great initiation for the AFL,” Nicholls said.
“People often ask and I tell them I learned the hard way coming through. I was a 16-year-old kid umpiring A-Grade Division 1 footy in the Diamond Valley. You had to know what you’re doing out there.”
The NFL congratulates Mathew on his selection and wishes him the best of luck on Saturday.
This weekend’s umpire panel is:
Field: Brett Rosbury, Matt Stevic, Simon Meredith
Emergency: Mathew Nicholls
Goal: Chelsea Roffey, Luke Walker
Boundary: Ian Burrows, Jonathon Creasey, Mark Foster, Robert Haala
