SANFL throwing its support behind AFL Community Umpiring Round

SANFL is immersing itself in the AFL’s Community Umpiring Round as umpire numbers continue to surge across the State.

A host of initiatives and activities to recognise and promote umpires across all levels of Community Football will be conducted, as the League pays tribute to those who officiate our great game in South Australia.

Eager to build on positive participation for 2023, SANFL is delighted a noticeable rise in female umpires is at the centre of an overall increase of 43 per cent on last year’s figures.

Female umpiring numbers have risen from 28 to 89 in the past 12 months, with total umpires in the National Pharmacies SANFL Juniors competition currently at 715, more than double the 326 who officiated in 2023.

Of those set to blow the whistle this year in the SANFL Juniors competition, 410 will don the fluorescent green for the first time, up from 115 in 2022.

The presence of AFL umpires at Community Football level in SA is only expected to spur these positive numbers, with well-known SA names such as Eleni Tee (nee Glouftsis), Craig Fleer and Leigh Haussen participating in grassroots training sessions in several regional areas, including the Barossa and Mt Barker.

Similar to the experience provided throughout AFL Gather Round, junior umpires will have the opportunity to walk out with AFL umpires during the Adelaide v St Kilda match at Adelaide Oval.

Six Barossa and Light junior umpires will be present for the Crows and Saints clash on Sunday, where they will have the change to experience the warm-up before umpiring the AFL Auskick matches at half-time.