AFL Barwon advises the Match Review of the weekends games has been completed with the following findings.

St Mary’s v St Albans

At the request of the officiating umpire, the MRP reviewed an incident in the 3^rd quarter of the St Mary’s v St Albans Senior match 20/5/2023 that involved a late bump by #13 St Albans Joshua Saltalamacchia on #25 St Mary’s Nicholas Connors. They deemed that the action constituted a charge and was reportable by nature.

They graded the incident as Intentional Conduct – Low Impact – Contact to the body.

The Base sanction for this offence is 1 match. The player has entered an early guilty plea and will receive a reprimand in this instance.

The Notice of Report issued on the day by the field umpire against #13 St Albans Joshua Saltalamacchia for rough conduct on #34 St Mary’s Matthew Keast in the 3^rd quarter has been assessed by the MRP.

Based on the vision and information provided by the reporting umpire they have graded the incident as:

Careless Conduct – Low Impact – High Contact

The Base sanction for this offence is 1 match. Due to being found guilty of an earlier offence in this game, the early guilty plea was not available and the player has accepted his one match suspension.

Anakie v Winchelsea

At the request of the officiating umpire, the MRP reviewed an incident in the 4^th quarter of the Anakie v Winchelsea Senior match 20/5/2023 that involved potential dangerous tackle by #19 Anakie Adam Walsh on #9 Winchelsea Tavae Sauni. They deemed that the action was not reportable and no action was taken.

At the request of the officiating umpire, the MRP reviewed an incident in the 1^st quarter of the Anakie v Winchelsea Senior match 20/5/2023 that involved potential dangerous tackle by #43 Anakie, but the vision was obscured and no charge was laid.

The Notice of Report issued on the day by the field umpire against #21 Winchelsea Coby Eagle for rough conduct on #16 Anakie Benjamin Moore in the 1^st quarter has been assessed by the MRP.

Based on the vision and information provided by the reporting umpire they have graded the incident as:

Careless Conduct – Medium Impact – High Contact

The Base sanction for this offence is 2 matches. The player has entered an early guilty plea and will receive a 1 match suspension in this instance.

The Notices of Report issued on the day by the field umpire against #45 Anakie Anthony Harding and #18 Anakie John Whitehouse for using abusive, insulting or obscene language towards or in relation to an umpire have been assessed by the MRP.

Based on the information provided by the reporting umpire they have determined that:

The Base sanction to be applied to both players for this offence is 2 matches. Both players have entered an early guilty plea and will receive a one match suspension in this instance.

North Shore v Newtown & Chilwell

At the request of the officiating umpire, the MRP reviewed an incident in the 2^nd quarter of the North Shore v Newtown & Chilwell Senior match 20/5/2023 that involved a bump by #49 Newtown & Chilwell Nelson Browne on #39 North Shore Joseph Salmon. They deemed that the action constituted a report for charging an opponent and was reportable by nature.

They graded the incident as Careless Conduct – Low Impact – Contact to the body.

The Base sanction for this offence is 1 match. The player has entered an early guilty plea and will receive a reprimand in this instance.

Thomson v Bell Post Hill

The Notice of Report issued on the day by the field umpire against #20 Thomson Darcy Troop for striking #30 Bell Post Hill Nicholas Flaccavento in the 3^rd quarter of the Thomson v Bell Post Hill Senior match 20/5/2023 has been assessed by the MRP.

They graded the incident as Intentional Conduct – Low Impact – High Contact.

The Base sanction to be applied for this offence is 2 matches. The player has entered an early guilty plea and will receive a one match suspension in this instance.

St Joseph’s v Lara

The MRP reviewed an incident late in the 4th quarter of the St Joseph’s v Lara Senior match 20/5/2023 that involved a bump by #40 Lara Josh Smith on #14 St Joseph’s Jack Buckley. They deemed that the action constituted a report for charging an opponent.

They graded the incident as Intentional Conduct – Low Impact – Contact to the body.

The Base sanction for this offence is 1 match. The player has entered an early guilty plea and will receive a reprimand in this instance.

Vision of another incident involving these two players in the 4^th quarter was sought, but there was no vision of the alleged incident. No charge was laid.

AFL Barwon is excited to announce Julie Ford as the newly appointed Women and Girls Education Umpiring Facilitator. We are proud to share this announcement with AFL Victoria, in-line with the state and region's 2030 Women & Girls Action Plan.

Leigh Buwalda (Victorian Umpire Recruitment & Retention Lead) describes that the Women and Girls Education pilot is “designed to assist community umpiring groups in developing a better environment for all umpires, with a specific focus on our female and new starter umpires”.

With over 10 years of experience in the umpiring industry, Julie is excited to take part in her first pilot program aimed at female umpires. Hoping to create an all-inclusive environment for all genders, all abilities, and all cultures to be welcomed into, Julie is looking forward to developing the role with support from AFL Victoria and AFL Barwon.

Working alongside an existing team of female umpires, Julie will be responsible for delivering key objectives for female football umpiring and will play a vital role in supporting and empowering women and girls within the umpiring community. Serving as the main point of contact for new and existing female umpires, Julie will address issues related to inclusion, the umpiring environment, and coaching/selection practices. Additionally, she will provide mentorship in discipline-specific skills, support the induction of new umpires, facilitate networking opportunities with local schools and football clubs, and have a voice at the strategic level to ensure inclusive policies are maintained. Overall, Julie’s role is crucial in creating an inclusive and supportive environment for females in umpiring.

AFL Barwon’s Director of Umpiring, Jock Hillgrove, explains that “umpiring is the absolute back bone to football and enhancing the opportunities for women and girls to get involved, whilst creating new pathways for inclusion, is paramount in strengthening our umpiring group. Noting the competencies Julie brings to this position and the impact this position can have on the region, we’re humbled and excited by the outcomes it will bring”.

AFL Barwon congratulates Julie on this position and looks forward to the skills, qualifications and experience she’ll bring to this opportunity.

Geelong Cats announce a new three-year partnership with Australia’s most trusted paint brand, Dulux, welcoming them as the Club’s Official Paint Partner.

The Cats and Dulux share an ethos of connecting with community, with Dulux Colour Your Club campaign at the heart of the partnership. The initiative will work with support from AFL Barwon and AFL Western Districts to invite sports clubs in the G21 and Barwon South West regions to apply for a clubhouse repaint and refresh.

“We are pleased to welcome Dulux to our partner family at the Cats. Dulux is a brand that, like the Cats, has a strong identity, rich history and a commitment to initiatives that support the community, sporting clubs and local businesses,” Geelong Chief Operating Officer Simon Kelleher said.

“Alongside Dulux, we can’t wait to roll out some exciting initiatives that will help transform communities at the grassroots level throughout the G21 and Barwon South West regions together.”

Speaking on the partnership, Dulux Chief Operating Officer Pat Jones said Dulux was thrilled to partner with Geelong to support community clubs in these regions.

“Just like Geelong is ‘more than just a club’, at Dulux we are more than just a paint brand, we are supporters of community,” Jones said.

“We both have deep respect for our shared histories whilst keeping a firm eye on the future and what our communities need. It’s all about people in the end.

“We recently celebrated a decade long partnership with Surf Life Saving Australia that has seen us provide over 40,000 litres of paint for surf clubs around the country. Clubs all along the western Victorian coast: from Anglesea to Apollo Bay, Torquay to Port Fairy, and Lorne to Portland, have been provided paint by Dulux, to help them keep their clubhouses protected from the harsh climate, whilst maintaining these important community hubs.”  

“We hope that the Dulux Colour Your Club program will celebrate and support Geelong, Surf Coast and Western District regional football clubs and the position they hold as a hub of their communities.”

Dulux Colour Your Club initiative will call on sports clubs in the region to nominate their club for a painted makeover of their facilities.

More details on how clubs can nominate will be shared in the coming weeks.

AFL Barwon advises the Match Review of the weekends games has been completed with the following findings.

Lara v North Shore

At the request of the officiating umpire, the MRP reviewed an incident in the 2^nd quarter of the Lara v North Shore Senior match 13/5/2023 that involved #4 Lara Matt Spence and #39 North Shore Joseph Salmon.

They deemed that the actions of Salmon were clumsy and potentially warranted a 50 metre penalty, but was not reportable. No charge was laid.

Geelong Amateur v Drysdale

1. At the request of the officiating umpire, the MRP reviewed an incident in the 2^nd quarter of the Geelong Amateur v Drysdale Senior match 13/5/2023 that involved a potential dangerous tackle by #64 Drysdale Jye Hawkins on an unknown Geelong Amateur Player.

They deemed that the tackle was not reportable. No charge was laid.

2. At the request of the officiating umpire, the MRP reviewed an incident in the 2^nd quarter of the Geelong Amateur v Drysdale Senior match 13/5/2023 that involved a potential dangerous tackle by #43 Geelong Amateur William Page on #35 Drysdale George Christofi.

They deemed that the tackle was dangerous and reportable as engaging in rough conduct.

They classified it as: Careless conduct – High Impact – Contact was high with the head hitting the ground.

The player has rejected the early guilty plea of a 2 match penalty and has requested the charge be heard at tribunal.

The hearing will be held 7.00pm Wednesday 17^th May.

Newtown & Chilwell v Leopold

1. At the request of the officiating umpire, the MRP reviewed an incident in the 1^st quarter of the Newtown & Chilwell v Leopold Senior match 13/5/2023 that involved a potential dangerous tackle by #44 Newtown & Chilwell Connor Fopiani on #3 Leopold Marcus Thompson.

They deemed that the tackle was not reportable. No charge was laid.

2. At the request of Leopold FNC, the MRP reviewed an incident in the 4^th quarter of the Newtown & Chilwell v Leopold Senior match 13/5/2023 that involved:

• A  potential strike by #32 Newtown & Chilwell Luke Maddock on #18 Leopold Connor Giddings.

They deemed that player Maddock struck player Giddings to the midriff and have reported him for striking.

They classified it as: Intentional conduct – Low Impact – Contact was to the body.

• They also viewed a follow-up incident whereby the deemed player Maddock kneed player Giddings whilst he was injured from the strike.

They have reported Maddock for “Making Unreasonable or Unnecessary contact with an injured player”

The combined Base sanction for the two offences is 2 matches. The player has entered an early guilty plea and will serve a 1 match suspension.

North Geelong v Inverleigh

At the request of the officiating umpire, the MRP reviewed an incident in the 1^st quarter of the North Geelong v Inverleigh Senior match 13/5/2023 that involved potential rough conduct in a ruck contest by #42 North Geelong Thomas Davis on #20 Inverleigh Jake Crawley.

They deemed that the actions of player Davis were reportable as engaging in rough conduct.

They classified it as: Careless conduct – Medium Impact – Contact to the body.

The Base sanction for this offence is 1 match. The player has entered an early guilty plea and will receive a reprimand in this instance.

Torquay v Portarlington Senior match Saturday 13^th May

The Notice of Report issued on the day by the field umpire against #10 Torquay Billy Henderson for rough conduct on #21 Portarlington Matthew Fromholtz in the 1^st quarter has been assessed by the MRP and based on the vision provided have recommended the charge be withdrawn.