The Warrnambool export officiated his first final this year, coincidentally the qualifying final between the Magpies and Eagles, after six years in the system.

Fellow former Warrmabool local Shaun Ryan, who will umpire his seventh AFL grand final and become the oldest person to officiate it, said Harris was on track for big things.

"I dare say when I hang up the boots he is going to be the guy that is probably going to take over and do a fair few grand finals,” he said.

"He has a great curiosity for improvement he is always looking to find out how he can get better and how he can improve and he is never really content.

"He is consistently trying to do things that will improve him and he has been one of those real gradual improvers.

“He didn't come in and set the world on fire he has just improved gradually and he was the youngest member of our finals panel and it looks like he has clearly got a really big future which is great."

Harris acknowledged that he knew he had ticked some key boxes. The 33-year-old also said he would not rest on his laurels.

"For me this year has been by far my best year and things have just started to fall into place," he said.

"But from now on it is about backing that up, it's not like once you get to finals its just a golden ticket for next year, all of the hard work starts again.

"And the thing I have learnt from all of these guys that finish at the top is that they have just been so super consistent and that is the next step for me.”

Harris said he had already turned his focus to 2019.

"I had my end of season review and for me it purely comes down to experience,” he said.

"The thing that separates myself from the guys that finish at the top is that consistency and nailing big games and nailing big moments.

"And that is a thing I need to step up and do going forward and if we are doing that then we give ourselves the best chance to participate at this time of year.

"I realised after umpiring one (final) and then sitting the benches for the next two weeks is that when I am at my best I can match it with the best guys on our list."

Ryan, Harris’s unofficial mentor, said the pair achieved something quite special this year.

The duo both finished in the top eight of AFL field umpires.

"I am not sure if that has happened from any league let alone a small country league like Warrnambool.

"So Warrnambool and the Warrnambool umpires should be pretty proud that they have two guys that have represented that region pretty well this year."

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