AFL FOOTBALL Operations Manager Adrian Anderson today announced the AFL Umpiring Department had aligned itself with the AFL Players Association to identify players who may best fit a career in elite umpiring at the AFL level.

Mr Anderson said the AFL remained determined to see if recently-retired players could enter umpiring ranks and be fast-tracked to AFL level, and this new partnership was aimed at players who wished to remain in the football industry after their playing days had concluded.

He said the program was proposing a 2-4 year pilot period involving a small group of former players alongside the current AFL umpiring panel.

“The AFL and the Umpiring Department will be seeking to identify potential senior AFL umpires from the ranks of recent players, provide them with an opportunity to develop the skills to be a senior umpire,” Mr Anderson said.

“We believe many former players have the attributes to develop into excellent umpires.”

AFLPA General Manager, Player Development, Steve Alessio said the AFLPA was delighted to be involved.

“We are pleased to be working with the AFL Umpiring Department to offer AFL players a great pathway to stay involved in the game,” Alessio said.

“ We encourage AFL players leaving the game to consider this opportunity and believe that former players becoming umpires would be a terrific asset to our game.”

The primary objectives of the program were:

• To provide/promote umpiring as a career path for recently retired or de-listed players who have identified ‘umpiring’ as an option.
• To provide a structure to assist former players prepare for a career in Umpiring.
• To provide a training and education program for former players to make the transition into umpiring, including formal accreditation.
• To increase the pool of umpires, creating more competition for appointments.
• To help to develop a more positive attitude regarding umpiring.