VAFA Umpires
How to join VAFA Umpiring
The start of the 2025 football season is fast approaching and the VAFA is now recruiting new Boundary, Field and Goal umpires. There has never been a better time to join VAFA Umpiring, with a large number of games requiring umpires each weekend.
Once you sign up with the VAFA, you will join a group of over 500 passionate and supportive umpires. You will learn the basics of umpiring, attend training to learn practical on field skills, and umpire games of football at clubs in your local area.
2025 Pre-Season Training
- Start Dates: Monday 3 February and Wednesday 5 February
- Venue: Elsternwick Park Oval 4 – New St, Brighton
- Time: 6pm to 7:15pm
Steps involved to become a VAFA Umpire
- Sign up as a VAFA Umpire via OfficialsHQ Registration. A video registration guide can be viewed here.
- Complete the Expression of Interest Form: JOIN VAFA UMPIRING
- Attend training on Monday or Wednesday at Elsternwick Park Oval, Glen Huntly Road, Brighton
- Be appointed to and umpire your first game for the VAFA
If you have any questions about how to join VAFA umpiring, please contact the VAFA’s Umpire Operations Manager, Stephen Privitera via email: stephen@vafa.com.au
Key Contacts
VAFA
- Umpire Operations Manager – Stephen Privitera (stephen@vafa.com.au)
- Premier Field Umpire Coach – Owen Hinson
- Senior Field Umpire Coach – Lionel Katz
- Development Field Umpire Coach – Campbell Hymans & Ben Lefebvre
- Boundary Umpire Coach – Shaun Bourke
- Goal Umpire Coach – Cooper Macdonald
- Fitness Coach – Tom O’Connor
VAFAUA
- President – Jim Marinis (vafaua.president@gmail.com)
- Vice President – Michael Evans
- Secretary – Adrian Damen (vafaua.secretary@gmail.com)
- Treasurer – Dylan Shipperd
History of VAFA Umpires
The VAFA Umpires have been based at Elsternwick Park since the VAFA moved their offices there in 1960. The VAFA Umpires Association is the representative body of the VAFA Umpires and the Umpires together form the largest VAFA club.
The VAFA is always looking to sign up new umpires, so if you want to stay fit, keep involved in football and want to officiate in the best, most popular and welcoming league in all community football then the VAFA Umpires is a great place to start.
The VAFA currently has 28 former umpires officiating in the AFL and state league competitions.
Former VAFA Umpires on the AFL List;
Field
- Chris Donlon (2011 AFL GF Umpire)
- Leigh Fisher**
- Robert O’Gorman
- Nicholas Brown
- Simon Meredith (2012-14, 2016-17, 2020 AFL GF Umpire)
- Andre Gianfagna **
- Cameron Dore**
- Andrew Heffernan
- Brent Wallace**
**Promoted as part of AFL Player-Umpire Pathway
Boundary
- Damien Cusack (2017 AFL GF Umpire)
- Matthew Jenkinson
- Michael Saunders (2013 AFL GF Umpire)
- James Scully
Goal
- Matthew Dervan (2020 AFL GF Umpire)
- Steven Piperno (2018-20 AFL GF Umpire)
Former Umpires on the State League and associated competitions list;
Field
- Peter Bailes (AFLW Listed)
- Jacob Rockwell
- Josh Ball
Boundary
- Sam Beer
- Luke Myatt
- Adrian Pretoriuos (AFLW Listed)
- Jack Punshon
- Raushaan Seychell
Goal
- Tope Adepoyibi (AFLW Listed)
- Joe Dorrat-Thorpe
- Chris Doyle
- Jake Marnie
- Jack Stammers (AFLW Listed)
Connect with the VAFA
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