How a bag of lollies almost ruined umpires' beautiful proposal

A humble bag of lollies to celebrate a professional milestone nearly ruined the biggest moment of two umpires’ personal lives.

In a heartwarming scene that went viral on Saturday, boundary umpire Dillon Tee proposed to field umpire Eleni Glouftsis in the middle of the MCG.

The moment arrived after the pair finished working their first AFL game together.

Tee popped the question after 10 years as a couple but his decision to propose was fast-tracked when the bosses handed out the umpires’ assignments last week.

The South Australian pair were called upon to work Carlton’s win over Adelaide, and the opportunity was too good to pass up.

“The appointments come out on Monday so we got told we’re together,” Tee told Channel 7.

“I had another plan further on down the track, and my mate said ‘oh, you’ve gotta do it’.”

While the timeline for the original idea is unclear, Tee put his new plan into action.

Family from both sides made their way to the MCG for the game and they lined the boundary fence after the final siren.

Telling Glouftsis they were required in the middle for a photo with the umpires association, Tee snuck the ring into his shorts and got down on one knee in the centre circle.

But he was lucky it wasn’t spoiled earlier in the weekend.

“It was pretty tough,” he said.

“There was a bag of lollies that nearly made it all come undone. Had to make sure that was put into El’s bag and not mine.

“We just bought a bag of lollies the day before and it was for us to share because we’d never done a game together.

“She wanted to put them in my bag! I said no, no, no. Obviously you know why now.

“Can’t have her fishing through my bag, that wouldn’t have been too good.”

Glouftsis, who became the AFL’s first female whistleblower in 2017, said saying yes was the easiest call she made all day.