’50/50 calls went his way’0:53
Former umpire Brett Allen has detailed the hilarious story of of an Australia v Ireland Test where he was accused of cheating.
2017 AFL Hall of Fame inductee Brett Allen is presented with his certificate by AFL Chairman Richard Goyder. Picture: Bianca De Marchi
LEGENDARY AFL umpire Brett Allen has delivered one of the great footy anecdotes.
In accepting his induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, the 346-game whistleblower revealed a hilarious story from an International Rules trip to Ireland.
Allen joined 13 fellow umpires in the Hall of Fame at a gala event at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday night.
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Officiating in a Test at Croke Park, Allen said the hosts weren’t big fans of his work.
“I was doing one of the Tests and the Irish guys were really … well, they thought I was cheating,” he said.
“There was an incident towards the end of the match where it looked like the Aussies were going to get up and I paid a – what they thought was a controversial free.
2017 AFL Hall of Fame inductees (from left) John Halbert, Brett Allen, Malcolm Blight, Barry Hall, Anthony Stevens and Simon Goodwin. Picture: Bianca De MarchiSource:News Corp Australia
“Anyway, they start running at me from everywhere and there’s a bit of a push and a shove and all that and they were talking in Irish, I couldn’t understand but I knew it wasn’t complimentary.
“All of a sudden I got backed into a corner and I felt a push behind me, and it was Brad Scott.
“He said ‘Brett I can see you’re under a bit of pressure here, but over here you are one of us, so if you need some assistance I’ll take a couple of these p***ks out in a second’.
To the roars of laughter at Adelaide Oval, Allen added: “Thankfully, it didn’t have to get to that but it’s amazing how many 50-50 frees went his way after I got home.”
Allen joined Barry Hall, Simon Goodwin, Ron Todd, John Halbert and Anthony Stevens as Hall of Fame inductees while Malcolm Blight was elevated to legend status.
Originally published as Ump’s hilarious Hall of Fame speech
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