Mathew_Nicholls
Mathew Nicholls
Australian rules football umpire
Mathew Nicholls (born 1977) is an Australian rules football field umpire in the Australian Football League.
He officiated in the 2013 AFL Grand Final[1] and the 2014 AFL Grand Final.
Nicholls was notably umpiring during the famous Sirengate match between St Kilda and Fremantle in 2006, when play was allowed to continue after the final siren because the siren was too quiet for Nicholls to hear.[2]
He is also known for paying Fremantle a controversial free kick in front of their goal and swinging the momentum the game against Collingwood on 24th May 2024. This baffling decision [3] was considered by the majority of football followers to not be in the spirit of the game and was 'over the top officiating'. [4]
Nicholls is also notably referred to as "the best bouncer in the business", by commentator Brian Taylor, a reference to his ability to produce a large centre bounce.