Football NSW Match Officials to feature in this Saturday’s A-League Men’s Grand Final
Leading Football NSW officials Emma Kocbek, Hugh Fenton-White and Kearney Robinson have been appointed to this Saturday’s 2024-25 A-League Men’s Grand Final between Melbourne Victory FC and Melbourne City FC at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
Kocbek, who started her career with Nepean Referees Group, secures her first A-League Men’s Grand Final appointment as Assistant Referee after featuring in last season’s A-League Women’s Grand Final. She becomes the first on-field female match official to be appointed to this fixture in the competition’s history.
Fenton-White has been appointed as the Reserve Assistant Referee, marking his second Grand Final appearance since joining the national panel in 2021.
While Robinson’s appointment to the 24/25 Grand Final as Assistant VAR marks his sixth appointment to an A-League Men’s Grand Final (AR 2020 and 2024, AVAR 2021, 2022 and 2023).
Congratulations to all the match officials appointed to the Grand Final:
Football NSW would also like to congratulate the following match officials, who were selected as part of the A-League Men’s 2025 Finals Series.
Matt McOrist, originally from Sutherland Shire Football Referees Association, reached significant milestones during the 2024/25 season. Along with his selection into the finals panel, McOrist was the 19th assistant referee in the A-League era to officiate 100 matches.
FIFA Referee Ben Abraham, hailing from the Eastern Suburbs Football Referees Association, was appointed to an elimination final and second leg semi-final as a fourth official. He whistled the semi-final leg 1 match between Melbourne Victory and Auckland at AAMI Park.
While finally FIFA Assistant Referee Brad Wright, from the Macarthur District Football Referees Association, was involved in each stage of the finals series, featuring both on-field and as a video match official. Wright featured as an assistant referee in the semi-final leg 1 match between Western United and Melbourne City. He was a VMO for the elimination final between Western United and Adelaide United, and the leg 2 semi-final match between Auckland FC and Melbourne Victory.
