AFL to tribute for Jesse Baird and Luke Davies
The AFL will honour Jesse Baird and Luke Davies with a tribute to the couple before Thursday night's opening game of the season at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon announced that players from Sydney Swans and Melbourne Demons, as well as the umpires will gather at 7.27pm and wear black armbands in a mark of respect for the allegedly murdered couple.
"A tribute pre-game to both Jesse and Luke tomorrow night is a small way for us all to reflect and remember two young men during what is a very difficult time for their families and friends," Dillon said.
"The AFL acknowledge and respect both families who are experiencing untold grief and so are particularly grateful for their support of the tribute."
The tribute will honour the memory of Davies, who was a lifelong Swans supporter and Baird, who was an AFL goal umpire and "a popular and respected member of our AFL umpiring family".
"Jesse developed many close friendships his umpiring career and time at the AFL," the statement read.
"He was such a vibrant, fun-loving person, who was deeply committed to umpiring."
Baird made his debut on the AFL umpiring list in March 2020 and was named the AFL's most promising goal umpire when he won the umpiring association's Brian Pratt Medallion two years in a row.
When he moved to Sydney in 2023, he continued his AFL umpiring career, which spanned 62 matches including two finals.
The couple were allegedly murdered by serving police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon in Baird’s Paddington home on February 19.
Their bodies were discovered in a rural NSW property on February 27, over a week after they were allegedly killed.
The senior constable has since been charged two counts of murder and remains behind bars after being denied bail.
Following their tragic deaths, tributes have flowed in from the couple's friends, family and colleagues across the country.
Images: AFLUA/ Facebook