Local footy competition to trial four umpires in weekend’s preliminary finals

In what is likely a local footy first, a metro league will trial having four umpires in a game during preliminary finals with a view to next week’s grand finals.

Northern league to trial four umpires.

A Melbourne local footy league will implement a four-umpire trial during this weekend’s preliminary finals.

The Northern Football Netball League will test the AFL-level system during Sunday’s Division 1 matches at Preston City Oval.

The league hopes to then use it in the following week’s grand finals.

The AFL has been using four umpires throughout 2023 but it is understood the trial is a first at suburban level.

Four umpires will officiate the under-19s, reserve grade and senior preliminary finals, with a place on the grand final up for grabs.

The AFL has been using four umpires all year. Picture: Michael Klein

NFNL head of umpiring Martin Ellis said the league was keen to be innovative.

“We have to start someone and we thought Division 1 was a good place to start,” Ellis said.

“We’ve canvassed some of the umpires who will be affected and received overwhelming support, over 90 per cent were willing to give it a go.

“As part of my role as head of umpiring this year, one of the key job attributes was being progressive and innovating in the umpiring space.

“In consultation with footy ops and the CEO, we had a discussion about what can we do, what can we do different and it would be great to get the four-umpire system up and running.

“We discussed the benefits and did we have to wait for another league to do it, let’s get on the first foot and be innovative.

“During the NFNL finals the league is responsible for umpiring fees, so we can invest in umpiring further, so we’re going to trial it and see how it works and not compromise umpire pay.”

Preliminary finals are considered arguably the hardest matches to win in football.

With stakes so high, mistakes by both players and umpires are magnified.

The majority of home-and-away matches this season were officiated by just two umpires, with three usually assigned to the match of the round.

Every finals match this season has had three umpires in charge.

Ellis is confident the new system will allow for better decision making.

“We’ll be able to control the game better, always have someone at the contest,” he said.

“There won’t be a reliance on other umpires to work as hard to get to position and it will assist on match management during the day.

“We expect there to be a high percentage of correct decision-making as a result.

“It also spreads the love, it will give more umpires an opportunity to umpire marquee appointments, knowing they don’t have to be the quickest on the list but might be strong decision-makers.

“Young umpires on a career pathway, who might be invited down to VFL/AFL, that they’re familiar with what goes on at the next level.”

Asked about opposition from umpires, Ellis said the only concerns were implementing the system at lower levels with umpires that aren’t able to consistent train.

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“The only pushback was around how do implement with umpires that don’t attend training, who do we coach and educate those people, but that’s a long way down the track,” he said.

“Every umpire is invaluable whether they attend training or not.”

“I’ll be there all day Sunday reviewing how it all operates and if it goes smoothly, I can’t see why it can’t continue into grand final week.”

Sunday’s matches will feature Bundoora v North Heidelberg in the seniors, Montmorency v North Heidelberg in the reserves and West Preston-Lakeside v Eltham in the under-19s.