Former NFNL goal umpire Jesse Baird has been appointed to officiate his first AFL final.
The 23-year-old was elevated to the AFL’s umpiring ranks last November and has already been rewarded with a final in his debut season.
Baird will officiate in Saturday’s elimination final between St Kilda and Western Bulldogs at the GABBA.
He made his AFL debut in the Round 1 clash between Gold Coast Suns and Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium.
Baird claimed the NFNL’s Most Improved Senior Umpire award in 2015 and officiated in the Division 1 Grand Final between Macleod and Greensborough in the same season.
He moved to Brisbane in 2017 and umpired the NEAFL grand final in both 2018 and 2019.
In 2019, he was named the NEAFL Goal Umpire of the Year in the Queensland and Northern Territory zone.
The NFNL congratulates Jesse on his appointment and wishes him the best of luck for the upcoming finals series.
