AFL UMPIRE Simon Meredith has made a remarkable return from a major health scare mid-season to be selected as one of the three field umpires for the 2014 AFL Grand Final.
Meredith was hospitalised after suffering bleeding on the brain (a subarachnoid haemorrhage) following the round 13 clash between Port Adelaide and the Sydney Swans.
At the time, he wondered whether he would ever umpire again. But on Saturday he will join Matt Stevic and Matthew Nicholls to officiate in his third consecutive Grand Final.
"At times I thought I pretty much won't umpire again, let alone get back to the AFL level and have a chance of running out with these guys on Saturday," Meredith said on Tuesday.
Meredith had six weeks off after being hospitalised, before returning to umpire in round 21 and has performed so well he has won the coveted position.
"It was pretty scary when it happened," Meredith said. "It was good to get back home first and foremost and see the wife and kids and get my health back."
Initially he suffered headaches for several days after training but gradually he felt normal again, won the all clear from the neurosurgeon and then from umpires coach Hayden Kennedy.
"It's obviously turned out really well," Meredith said.
Meredith is now fully recovered and off medication and says it was more of a physical challenge than a mental one to return.
Stevic said the umpires were proud of their colleague's efforts and he well and truly deserved the gig.
Meredith has umpired in the past three Grand Finals, while Stevic umpired the 2012 Grand Final between Hawthorn and the Swans, while Nicholls umpired his first Grand Final last year.
The trio are yet to decide who will take the first bounce but are confident whoever gets the nod will start the game off well.
Meredith took the first bounce in last year's Grand Final but Nicholls joked it might be a case of playing rock-paper-scissors to decide who takes that responsibility.
As to whether it was a dream or a nightmare to be forced to make a crucial decision late in a tight game, Meredith said it was not something the umpires' feared.
"I don't think any of us dream about having an impact on the game," Meredith said. "We just want to go out and do our job and hopefully don't get noticed.
