Ray Chamberlain in sad announcement as AFL world pays tribute to iconic umpiring figure

AFL fans are paying tribute to 'Razor' Ray Chamberlain after the iconic umpire revealed he's calling it quits at the end of the season. The 47-year-old reportedly told his colleagues at a training session on Tuesday that he's retiring.

Chamberlain has umpired over 380 games at AFL level, including three grand finals and 31 finals matches. He was in charge for the infamous 2010 grand final in which Collingwood and St Kilda drew, and again the following week for the replay. He was also the main umpire for the 2019 grand final in which Richmond thrashed GWS.

It also emerged on Tuesday that fellow veteran umpire Chris Donlon will retire at season's end, as will experienced boundary umpire Michael Saunders. Donlon has umpired 422 games, while Saunders has overseen 300.

Chamberlain has become an iconic figure in the AFL community after Channel 7 commentator Brian Taylor nicknamed him 'Razor Ray' early in his career. “Over the years I’ve learned to understand that generally speaking, people who make reference to ‘Razor’ I’ve never had the privilege to meet them, they haven’t met me,” he said in 2018.

“They just know whoever this umpiring persona is and so I’ve learned to compartmentalise it, the good and the not so good. When I come home, I’m just dad, or ‘Oi, take the bins out’ and then when I go to the footy, I put up with whatever that is. I wouldn’t change any of it.”

Chamberlain has only officiated in three games this season due to a back injury that has prevented him from bouncing the ball properly. It meant he couldn't umpire in last year's finals series, and received permission from the AFL to throw the ball up rather than bounce it.

He revealed in 2017 that he had to undergo a shoulder reconstruction due to the toll of bouncing the ball throughout his career. “I know it causes guys - not just myself - extraordinary levels of anxiety when really they should be focusing on the job at hand," he said. “I’ve got no doubt it would be a really positive move for umpiring and the game in general (to move away from bouncing the ball).”

Ray Chamberlain's retirement amid umpiring controversy in 2024

The retirements of Chamberlain, Donlon and Saunders come amid a year of high controversy for the AFL umpiring fraternity. Umpires chief Steve McBurney and his cohort have copped plenty of criticism over decisions that have influenced the outcome of several games this season.

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But CEO Andrew Dillon claimed earlier this month the standard of umpiring is as good as ever. "I spend a lot of time with the umpires, talking to Steve McBurney who's heading it up, but also individual umpires," Dillon told reporters.

"Our umpires, it's an incredibly tough game to umpire, but we've got elite decision-makers, they're elite athletes, but they continue to work their craft. All sports are really difficult to officiate, but I think our sport is one of the hardest ones.

"What our focus on is actually just preparing our umpires and making sure we get the processes right and continue to umpire as well as we can. It's as good as it's ever been, the umpiring. We're in the second year on the four-umpire system as well, so we're on a journey with the four-umpire system."

with AAP