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Umpiring

AFL Launches Campaign to Promote Respect for Umpires

The Australian Football League has launched a national campaign to highlight the importance of showing respect for umpires at all levels, from community football through to the elite game.

There are more than 15,000 umpires in community football nationwide – across the three disciplines of field, boundary and goal – and more are needed to cater for the game’s growth.

Without umpires there is no game and too often umpires are subjected to abuse on the field and from the other side of the fence. The ‘Umpire Respect’ campaign shines a light on the impact of abuse and the role everyone in football has to play in changing the match day experience to a more supportive and positive environment for all.

At the centre of the campaign is emerging 20-year-old umpire Jeremy Zhou, who has experienced abuse in the game. The campaign follows Jeremy’s story from developing a love of football as a kid through to getting into umpiring and the impact his first experience of abuse had on him.

Jeremy, who currently umpires at VFL and community level, was nearly lost to the game.

Despite the challenges he has faced, Jeremy has shown tremendous resilience and is a great example of a young umpire coming through the ranks via the pathway system, who is destined for greater things.

AFL Executive General Manager Game Development, Rob Auld, said: “No matter the role you play in football – player, coach, volunteer, administrator, supporter or umpire – everyone has the right to feel safe and valued at the footy.

“Those who abuse umpires in football are not just disrespecting the individual who is the target of the abuse, they are disrespecting the game, their club and the community they represent.

“Current and prospective umpires should know that stamping out abuse is a major priority for the game across the country. Umpire abuse needs to stop now, it is not a part of our game and we all need to own and drive it out of footy.

“Umpires are vitally important to the game and it is a fantastic time to get into umpiring, with enhanced support and pathway systems in place.”

The campaign highlights the human element of umpires and focuses on the benefits involved in being an umpire, including playing an important role in the game, fitness, getting paid and being part of a community.

The AFL encourages community football clubs across the country to promote the campaign to their players, coaches and volunteers to assist in condemning and stamping out umpire abuse.

Anyone considering giving umpiring a go can visit play.afl/umpire to learn more. 

WATCH JEREMY'S STORY - https://www.afl.com.au/news/940546/?fbclid=IwAR3VmqVr47a0P8vEv0PnT_Msf9LqBZNRd6Ym2_tNMJ738LuhJmo6SEHOa2w

Female Umpiring Program Registration

AFL Barwon invite all Women and Girls in the region to join our 4-week New Umpires Program!

GAIN SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE - Take part in face-to-face workshops to develop your skills
BUILD CONFIDENCE - In your ability to officiate, lead, and understand AFL Football
BUILD CONNECTIONS - Connect with umpires, players, and staff from across the region

Location: Banyul-Warri Fields Sporting Precinct, Torquay VIC 3228
Dates: Thursdays from 5.00 - 6.00  (September 07 / 14 / 21 / 28)

Please note - this workshop is open to ages 12+

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Jones marks Milestone with 500 game achievement

There wouldn’t be many Saturday afternoons in football season that you wouldn’t see the presence of Chris Jones on a ground somewhere in the Barwon Region. Chris recently clocked up the remarkable effort of officiating 500 matches of football locally over roughly a 10-year period.

He decided to grab the whistle after a playing career at local clubs Inverleigh, Grovedale, and Geelong Amateur, where he retired from the game in the middle of the 2006. Unfortunately, 3 head knocks over a short period led Chris to hang up the playing boots. This eventually become a blessing for the local umpiring fraternity.

Umpiring certainly wasn’t front of mind or something that Chris had planned to do after footy, although he was missing the game, and was wanting to get active, so he took up the whistle. 

Over his distinguished umpiring career, he modestly described his ability to continue to perform at the highest level through staying fit and undertaking recovery accordingly. “People who know me, know I love running which might be a weird thing to say”. Thios running base, staying healthy and recovery sessions following up to 4 games accross a weekend. “I do a lot of recovery in the sea water at Eastern Beach accross a Sunday. I am pretty sore on a Sunday night” Jones explained.

Despite umpiring his own matches accross the weekend, he also shares his learnings to the young umpires. “The biggest thrill I get at the moment is seeing the up-and-coming junior umpires progress through. I have been lucky enough to have been umpiring for a lot of their senior debuts, which is really awesome. It’s something I take great pride in with coaching the junior development field umpires as well. Seeing them progress to Senior ranks is really rewarding.” Jones stated.

Chris described umpiring as the “best seat in the house” especially being able to watch Mathieson Medallists, Matt McMahon and Harry Benson up close. These were two players who he described as some of the best he has umpired over recent times. 

AFL Barwon Director of Football Umpiring, Jock Hillgrove described Chris as an ‘absolute gem’ in the umpire fraternity.

“He is always available to do multiple games if needed, and clearly having reached 500 games so quickly, it is a testament to Chris’s commitment. He has also been our Field Development Coach over the last 5 years and is very supportive of all those that have taken up field umpiring. He is a great mentor for everyone around him”.

Hillgrove regards Jones as a ‘very genuine well-liked person’ and emphasised how highly respected he is across our AFL Barwon Region.

“I’m so pleased for Chris on his milestone knowing that he has so much more to contribute to his journey as an umpire and umpire coach, I have great respect for his passion and commitment to umpiring “, said Hillgrove.

Jones doesn’t plan to hang up the whistle anytime soon with him, “I have still got the passion in me to continue going”.

The AFL Barwon community congratulates Chris on wonderful achievement and look forward to seeing him continue to set the standards for those emerging umpires. 

This week is a celebration of Community Umpiring across the AFL, if you are looking to get involved umpiring, simply go to https://play.afl/umpire

Latest News

Local Legends: Milestone ump hits 1500 games

78-year-old Geoff Coghill has been a true stalwart of the AFL Barwon football region, umpiring 1500 games over nearly 60 years!

Geoff began umpiring in 1965 in Geelong and has continued through to 2024 despite having never played a game of football himself. He was encouraged by a friend’s father to try umpiring, and he quickly fell in love with it. Geoff has three daughters, who never played football either, but would often watch his games from the sidelines and have been heavily involved in the social aspect of the local footy community all these years.

Geoff has umpired across the Colac and District, Geelong, Hampden, Western Plains and Heytesbury Mount Noorat Football Leagues over his six-decade umpiring career and remains in Colac where he hit the milestone of 1500 games on May 26 at Gellibrand Reserve in the Otway District.

Geoff was awarded Life Membership to the Colac and District Football Umpires Association in 1982 and received an Australia Day award in 2016 for Sporting Service of the Year in the Colac Shire.

Geoff has worked his whole life as an optician, making eyeglasses for a living, which has led to some comical scenes on the footy field when spectators have been unhappy with a decision and told him to get himself a pair of his own glasses to see better!

His daughter Shelley described his umpiring style as firm, but very fair, and said he has umpired hundreds of juniors, reserves and seniors’ games including many grand finals.

“Hitting the 1000 game and 1200 game milestones where highlights for Dad, but this 1500 game milestone takes the cake as his proudest umpiring achievement,” she said.

“He has said he might finally retire now!”.

AFL Barwon Regional Manager, Edward Wilson commended Geoff on his achievement and his dedication to umpiring.

“Geoff’s achievement is testament to his passion, commitment and expertise to the discipline of umpiring,” he said.

“Through Geoff’s tenure as an umpire, he’s inspired and supported many within the umpiring fraternity and an achievement of this magnitude, will continue to be a source of immense inspiration for all within our community”.

AFL Victoria’s Local Legends initiative aims to recognise the local heroes who are the lifeblood of their local clubs and communities.

Whether it be a coach, player, umpire, local business owner, administrator or volunteer, AFL Victoria wants to celebrate the people who are the backbone of community football clubs. Community football clubs simply could not survive without those who are willing to show up each weekend and make sure that the game goes ahead, crowds are well fed, players are supported and success is enjoyed.

Nominees for the AFL Victoria Local Legends initiative can be anyone who is involved in a community football club in any capacity, whether it be paid or unpaid, directly related to the game or a behind-the-scenes super star, these legends are who make community football what it is.

Do you know someone with a great story like Geoff's? Nominate them now 

Latest News

Vale Dean Lobbe

AFL Barwon is saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Dean Lobbe, a beloved member of our community.

Dean was an incredible member of the AFL Barwon community, particularly with Anglesea FNC, the BFNL and the AFL Barwon & Geelong Umpires community.

Dean was a man of immense integrity, compassion and commitment. He touched the lives of so many, both on-and-off the field. His positive attitude and willingness to give everything to those around him, will never be forgotten.

Our deepest condolences to Dean’s family and friends during this period, the Anglesea FNC, our Umpiring communities and all with our region and beyond whom knew Dean.