‘There’s just that presence’: Female umpire surge marks Chelsea Roffey’s milestone match

As Chelsea Roffey prepares to umpire her 300th AFL match, women across Australia are trying to follow in her footsteps. Roffey speaks on her career and how it could have helped girls in footy.

AFL Round 18. 17/09/2020. North Melbourne vs West Coast Eagles at Metricon stadium, Gold Coast. Goal umpire Chelsea Roffey . Pic: Michael Klein

AFL Victoria is celebrating an enormous spike in female umpire involvement for the 2024 season.

Around 800 female umpires are registered in both country and metro football, accounting for a spike of more than 40 per cent on 2023 numbers.

The rise, which continues a trend of previous years, coincides with the career of female goal umpire Chelsea Roffey, who this weekend officiates in her 300th AFL match.

When Roffey debuted, there had only been one female umpire before her and she was the only one in the AFL at the time.

Now, the surge in female participation is starting to level out the playing field.

However, the term “pioneer” still doesn’t sit well with the milestone-woman.

“I take that label as a huge compliment, I love the fact that if you pass a footy oval these days, you often see a girl kicking a footy with her dad,” Roffey said.

“There’s just that presence of females in the game that probably wasn’t there when I was growing up.

“To think I played a part in that is a very humbling suggestion, but I think it’s also the fact in (AFL) W we’ve had so much more opportunities open up.

“There’s such a visible presence that just has to have had an impact.

“It’s hopefully going to reach a bit tipping point where it’s just normalised as ‘involvement’.”

Goal umpire Chelsea Roffey. Pic: Michael Klein

From a young age, Roffey understood “the news angle” but invested her focus in getting her calls right.

“From the beginning, I have always been very conscious that gender does form a part of my story and that’s the news angle,” she said.

“But over the years I have been conscious of trying to build respect and, early on, trying to really earn my spot.

“Making sure I was first and foremost performing as an umpire but then being someone that was credible in the competition.

“I think over years that morphed into wanting to enjoy it more and soaking up the atmosphere, being present for those magical moments that happen right in front of you.

“I would like to think I am a little bit more relaxed these days and can hopefully get out there on Saturday and just soak it up and enjoy the moment.”

Roffey on debut at the GABBA. Pic Darren England.

The week leading into her 300th game has had shades of Roffey’s debut.

There’s been a lot of messages, hype and media attention.

And come Saturday, there will be the same desire to call the game correctly alongside the appreciation for sharing the field with the game's greats.

“I still remember stepping out onto the GABBA and being on the centre, rather than the outer as I was as a footy lover,” she said.

“I had this excellent photo that was provided to me, it’s got me intently focusing on the play in front of me and the back of one of the Brisbane Lions’ players. There’s no head to identify but it’s the no.3.

“You can see my level of concentration and slightly terrified look. In my mind I was thinking: ‘let’s get this right, let’s get this right, but also … that’s Michael Voss!’

“I can still remember what it was like to be in that central kind of position for the first time and wanting to absolutely nail that opportunity to umpire at the highest level.”

As for her favourite moments or players, Roffey said it would be hard to go by the magic of Cyril Rioli and Eddie Betts as well as the roar of the crowd on Anzac or grand final day.