AFL Victoria launches two new umpiring programs
AFL Victoria is excited to launch two new programs for umpires and umpire coaches across the state, with the Community Umpire Accelerator Program and the Community Umpire Coach Development Program aiming to create a stronger pathway from community football to the elite level.
The two new programs are launching a result of a collaboration between AFL Victoria and the AFL State League and Talent Pathway’s program. Linking community umpires and coaches with state league and talent pathway programs, these initiatives will help to elevate individuals as they strive to further their career in umpiring, while also encouraging them to take their learnings back to their community umpiring groups.
As part of this collaboration, the inaugural Umpire Coach Pathway Program will also be launched, creating an opportunity for community umpiring coaches to develop with the intent to become involved as mentors within Community Umpire Accelerator Program.
These programs will be supported by an Umpire Talent and Coaching Coordinator, who will provide administrative and development support to those involved.
Community Umpire Accelerator Program
The Community Umpire Accelerator Program aims to deliver a high-performance experience for up-and-coming umpires in community football. In 2024, 63 umpires from 19 community umpiring groups across the state will take part in the program.
The program will see participants attend State League and Talent Pathway (VFL) training sessions on a monthly basis. During these sessions, community umpires will be exposed to conditioning, skill and coaching sessions, equipping them with the skills and expertise to help them improve and succeed as umpires.
They will also have the opportunity to officiate and be observed in matches across the V/Line Cup, Herald Sun Shield, Coates Talent League and VFLW competitions, receiving feedback on their development and performance.
Community Umpire Accelerator Program Squad
Goal Umpires
Christian McMahon – Southern Football Netball League (SNFL)
Lochie Carter – Western Districts Football Umpires Association (WDFUA)
Cameron Valles – Western Regions Football League (WRFL)
Christopher Mikhael – Essendon Districts Football League (EDFL)
Cameron Clune – Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL)
Christian Steward – Northern Football Netball League (NFNL)
Aidan Dudding – AFL Barwon
Lucas Graf – Northern Football Netball League (NFNL)
Ethan Smith – Southern Football Netball League (SNFL)
Haley Hunt – AFL Barwon
Nicholas Toohey – Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA)
Felix Scarlett – Western Regions Football League (WRFL)
Amar Yassine – Essendon Districts Football League (EDFL)
Kaitlyn Malcolm May – Outer Eastern/Yarra Ranges Umpires Association
Sarah Maxwell – Essendon Districts Football League (EDFL)
Brianna Plemming – AFL Goulburn Murray
Bridie Mackay – AFL Goulburn Murray
Boundary Umpires
Mitch Hasen – AFL South East
Josh Rofe – Ballarat Football Umpires Association (BFUA)
Bailey Wilson – AFL Barwon
Patrick Murphy – Bendigo Umpires Association
Saxon Van Heumen – Central Rivers Umpire Association
Joshua Cunningham – Essendon Districts Football League (EDFL)
Jack Stelfox – Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL)
Sam Rattray – Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL)
Andre Elliott – Gippsland Umpires Association (GUA)
Claire Irving – LaTrobe Valley Umpires Association / Bendigo Umpires Association
Marc Botoulas – Northern Football Netball League (NFNL)
Lucas McIntosh – Outer Eastern/Yarra Ranges Umpires Association Cody McLaughan – RIDDLE
Ben McShane – Southern Football Netball League (SFNL)
Matthew Bamfield – Southern Football Netball League (SFNL)
Rylan Bell – South Gippsland Umpires Association (SGUA)
Zhi Xia McNeil – South Gippsland Umpires Association (SGUA)
Jess Styan – Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA)
Josh Doherty – Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA)
Thomas Giallo – Western Regions Football League (WRFL)
Kynan Stasinowsky – Wimmera Mallee Umpires Association
Field Umpires
Maison Ring – AFL North East Border
Jye Stannage – AFL South East
Sophie Mastaing – AFL South East
Harrison Pinney – AFL South East
Hamish Irvin – AFL Barwon
Tom Janke – AFL Barwon
Jack Anderson – Bendigo Umpires Association
Ky Shennan – Essendon Districts Football League (EDFL)
Dan Phillips – Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL)
Jack Norris – Goulburn Valley Umpires Association (GVUA)
Ryan McLeod – LaTrobe Valley Umpires Association (LVUA)
Sam Norton – Northern Football Netball League (NFNL)
Sam Price – Outer Eastern/Yarra Ranges Umpires Association Francis Nickell – Outer Eastern/Yarra Ranges Umpires Association
Harry Davis – Sale Umpires Association
Adam Marrow – Southern Football Netball League (SNFL)
Hayden Whitehouse – Southern Football Netball League (SNFL)
Zack Scholz – South Gippsland Umpires Association (SGUA)
Portia Ronsberg – Southern Football Netball League (SNFL)
Angus Bunker-Smith – Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA)
Aiden Tester – Western Regions Football League (WRFL)
Sam Dunne – Western Regions Football League (WRFL)
Damien Irvin – Ballarat Football Umpires Association (BFUA)
Declan Gale – Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA)
Community Umpire Coach Development Program
The Community Umpire Coach Development Program will aim to provide a clear development pathway for umpire coaches, either to progress to higher levels or to develop their skills for use in community football. It will also include current state league-listed umpires who have the desire to build their coaching skills while still running.
The 2024 program will include 17 community umpire coaches and 14 state league umpires. They will receive development opportunities both in person and online, with monthly workshops, state league and talent pathway training and coaching sessions, and events alongside umpires in the Community Umpire Accelerator Program.
Community Umpire Coach Development Program Academy
Field Umpire Coaches
Jason McNiece – Outer East Yarra Ranges (OEYR)
Lachlan Carney – South Metro Junior Football League (SMJFL)
Nathan Mc Donald – Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL)
Scott Moorhouse – Latrobe Valley Umpires Association (LVUA)
Adam Coles – Ballarat Umpires Association
Josh Chenoweth – South Gippsland Umpires
Brett Pallini – Essendon Districts Football League (EDFL)
Katrina Stopinski – Eastern Football Netball League (EFNL)
Boundary Umpire Coaches
Mitchell Lea – South Metro Junior Football League (SMJFL)
Corey Brown – Victorian Amateurs Football Association (VAFA)
Rachel Dodd - Latrobe Valley Umpires
Julia Stokes – Victorian Amateurs Football Association (VAFA)
Goal Umpire Coaches
Charlie Zampaglione – Goulburn Valley Football Umpires (GVFU)
Robert Newman - Goulburn Valley Football Umpires (GVFU)
Cooper MacDonald – Victorian Amateurs Football Association (VAFA)
Ashleigh Lovas – Sale Umpires League
Paul Martin – Bendigo Umpires Association
Colin Hood – AFL Barwon
Sian James – AFL Barwon
