Scott McLaren (born 11 April 1968) is a former Australian rules football field umpire in the Australian Football League (AFL). He umpired 328 career games in the AFL.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.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 held the record with 177.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.In 2010, McLaren was dumped by the AFL after the Round 6, 2010 game between Essendon and Hawthorn. This was as a result of a controversially paid free kick against Henry Slattery awarded to Lance Franklin for a deliberate rushed behind during the match. McLaren announced his retirement from umpiring at the end of 2010. His last match was Melbourne vs North Melbourne at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
$600,000
