Scott McLaren

Scott McLaren (born 11 April 1968) is an Australian rules football field umpire in the Australian Football League. He has umpired 300 career games in the AFL. [At the completion of Week 1 of the finals for the 2006 AFL season.] [ [http://www.aflua.com.au/index.asp?d=5A4C5A717251477C7008060A010502 AFLUA Statistics] , accessed on 18 September 2006]

McLaren was awarded the All Australian Umpire award in 2001, as well as his second AFL Grand Final appointment in the same year. McLaren also umpired in the 1999, 2005, 2007 and 2008 AFL Grand Finals. [ [http://www.aflua.com.au/index.asp?d=5A4C5A717251477C7008060A010704145A4C5A71784456587D710A080404020600 Scott McLaren Profile at the AFL Umpires Association] . Accessed on 21 September, 2008.]

In 2003, Scott McLaren became only the second umpire in the history of the AFL to umpire over 100 consecutive games, breaking Jack Elder's earlier record of 102 games later that season. As of 2006, McLaren still holds the record. [ [http://www.aflua.com.au/index.asp?d=5A4C5A717251477C7008060D070609 Biography at the AFL Umpires Association] ]

In 2004, McLaren ended up at the centre of a controversy when, on "The Footy Show", Essendon captain James Hird criticised the umpiring in the Round 2, 2004 game. He singled out McLaren as one of the umpires who made poor decisions, labelling him "disgraceful". Hird was later fined A$20,000 for his comments. [cite web | author=The Age | title=Hird fined, promotes umps| url=http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/15/1081998298771.html|accessdate=2006-10-28]

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