Face of Nation : A touching display of love between two AFL umpires has warmed the hearts of fans around the country. The wonderful scenes came during Carlton’s impressive win against Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday. The AFL’s first female field umpire Eleni Glouftsis strode out onto the famous ground alongside her boyfriend, Dillon Tee – a fellow umpire. The pair stopped in the centre square where Tee got down on one knee to ask Glouftsis for her hand in marriage.
Judging by the looks on both of their faces and affectionate exchange of kisses, it’s fair to say she said “yes”. Tee hoisted his new fiancee’s hand into the air in celebration before the love-birds made their way from the ground.
Viewers were left moved by the touching moment, offering their congratulations to the pair on social media. The wonderful scenes followed another moment to saviour for Carlton caretaker coach David Teague and his Blues.
Teague boasts an outstanding 5-2 record after co-captain Patrick Cripps ran amuck on Saturday at the MCG and the Blues upset the spluttering Crows by 27 points. The 13.9 (87) to 9.6 (60) result means Adelaide have lost four of their last five games and are in danger of dropping out of the top eight with the finals looming.
The resurgent Blues have also won three in a row for the first time since 2016. Adding to the joy at Carlton, their rise from the foot of the ladder makes the speculative Liam Stocker trade with Adelaide at last year’s national draft a lot better for them. The closer they finish to the Crows on the ladder, the better the trade becomes.
But more immediately, Teague’s star is shining brightly since taking over from Brendon Bolton. Earlier this month Carlton board member Chris Judd sparked headlines when he said they did not want a senior coach with training wheels.
While this is Teague’s first AFL senior coaching assignment, in cycling terms he looks like a solid Tour de France rider. “Apparently I didn’t have them (training wheels). Look, like I said, it didn’t faze me,” Teague said. “Chris (has) a role in the media, my job is to coach, I love to coach and I’m going to continue to coach to my best.”
Teague added he is happy to wait until the end of the season to formally interview for the senior role. “I’m very comfortable with the position that the club is in, they’ll make the right decision when it comes around,” he said. Teague heaped praise on Cripps, who is guaranteed three more Brownlow Medal votes with his imposing game.
