Resplendent in his new fluoro green uniform and cap, former player David Rodan made his AFL goal umpiring debut on Sunday, at the North Melbourne-Fremantle game at Etihad.
Rodan, who played 185 games with Port Adelaide, Richmond and Melbourne, had a successful, drama-free first outing in his new role and was officiating at the Lockett End when Shaun Higgins rolled through his miracle goal in the second quarter.
Later on Instagram, under a picture of himself signalling a goal, Rodan wrote: "The game face is back! Felt awesome being out there today, fluorescent green really is my colour. Appreciate all the love and support leading into my 1st AFL goal umpiring appointment, means the world to me. Hopefully I can inspire a new wave of culturally diverse umpires and footballers .... Cheers guys."
During his playing days, the Fijian-born flyer was the life of the party on the dancefloor and later not only appeared on Channel Seven's Dancing With The Stars, but won the competition.
But he resisted the temptation to bust out 'the worm' on Sunday, as he did when he goal-umpired the EJ Whitten Legend's Match last year. "Obviously first game I'll make sure I get the basics down pat and make sure it's a nice clean game and hopefully get a second game," Rodan said before his debut.