AFLW to get top umpires

THE nation’s top whistleblowers will adjudicate AFL Women’s games for the first time when the burgeoning competition starts next week.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan and football operations boss Steve Hocking announced the decision last night.

The umpiring issue emerged as a key concern for players during collective bargaining agreement discussions late last year.

McLachlan and Hocking were among a contingent of league officials to speak with players during the saga.

No AFL-listed umpires officiated in any AFLW games in 2019.

The AFL Umpires Association, which oversees 34 field umpires, has agreed to support the move for AFL field umpires to officiate selected games, with the majority of field umpires to get a call-up.

The competition starts next Friday week when Carlton tackles new side Richmond under lights at Ikon Park

The umpires were told of the shift at training last night.

“We met a number of players last year and listening to their feedback on the league and the game, it was clear their desire to involve AFLlisted field umpires into their AFLW matches,” Hocking said.

“We learned a lot in the discussions with the AFLW delegates and the decision to use AFL umpires was a direct outcome of those constructive conversations.

“We are really excited about this season with four new teams and over 120 new players and looking forward to a huge night with Richmond and Carlton opening the season at Ikon Park.”

The overhaul of the competition’s field umpiring ranks comes after a number of AFLW coaches and players expressed their dismay at the level of umpiring in the competition’s first three seasons.

Half of the competition’s 56 home and away games will feature an AFL field umpire, with all 14 teams to be allocated an AFL umpire.

There are plans for umpire allocations to be evenly spread by Round 3 of the competition, which starts February 7.