Veteran AFL umpire Darren Goldspink has today announced that his final game as an AFL umpire will be tomorrow nights NAB Cup match between St Kilda and Richmond at the Telstra Dome. The 43 year old today held a press conference where he announced his decision and used the old cliche that he knew it was time to call it quits. Over his long career as an umpire Goldspink umpired a total of 371 home & away season matches and got the chance to umpire in 6 AFL Grand Finals.
While it seemed the AFL were happy with his performance over his career it was clear that he was despised by many of the supporters. Goldspink was alleged to have sledged Geelong players during a match in 2006 when it was claimed that he swore at Paul Chapman and told Gary Ablett to “get a kick”.
Hawthorn supporters will also be glad to see the back of him tomorrow night although they will now need to make up a new excuse or find a new umpire to blame in controversial matches.