The AFL has today confirmed its 2025 AFLW Umpire List for the upcoming NAB AFLW Premiership Season, with some well-known, experienced whistle blowers set to take the field again, alongside rising stars of the officiating caper.
Among the national list of 116 umpires are former AFL field umpires Ray Chamberlain, Jordan Bannister and Chris Donlon, who have a combined 910 games of senior experience, plus 52 AFL finals and four AFL grand finals.
The recipient of the 2024 AFLW Umpire Rising Star Award, field umpire Jordyn Pearson, will add to her 44-game career in 2025 as will Gabby Simmonds, who field umpired the 2024 NAB AFLW Grand Final in her 58th game. AFLW Grand Final goal umpires Emilie Hill and Georgia Henderson will also return. On the boundary includes AFL rookie listed umpires Greta Miller, Kaitlin Barr and Melissa Sambrooks – who bring a combined 145 AFLW games experience.
Glenn James OAM Scholarship recipient, goal umpire Joshua James, also returns to AFLW to wave the flags. James was the first Indigenous AFLW listed umpire with his appointment for the 2023 season.
As the AFLW celebrates its milestone 10th season in 2025, this year sees women make up 36 per cent of the AFLW Umpiring list with 42 women set to take the field – up two per cent from 2024. This figure has nearly doubled from season one – reflecting the continual work being driven through the Women and Girls Action Plan since it was launched in 2022.
The elite competition was the catalyst for the Action Plan, which reinforces the AFL's vision and commitment to progress the game for women and girls across all levels of Australian Football – including officiating pathways and opportunities.
Earlier this year Annie White (née Mirabile) was appointed the league's AFLW Umpire Head Coach after a successful umpiring career across the VFL and AFLW, including umpiring the inaugural women's match between Carlton and Collingwood at IKON Park in 2017.
In the last three years there has been a 72 per cent increase in the number of women and girls umpiring the game from community to elite, which equates to nearly 1,200 more umpires around Australia.
Seven umpires assigned to the 2025 AFLW Umpire List including Ritchie, Best, Green, Stark, Sambrooks, Manning and Henderson – have all been involved in the Women and Girls Experience Hubs, which help connect umpires in local regions to drive retention, attract new umpires to the game and inspire the next generation.
This initiative sits under the AFL's commitment to enshrine 10 per cent of the game's assessable revenue back into game development to support the growth and inclusivity of footy at all levels.
AFL Executive General Manager of Football Operations Laura Kane congratulated the umpires who will officiate in the milestone 10th NAB AFLW season.
"On behalf of the AFL I'd like to congratulate all the umpires who have been selected to officiate the 2025 NAB AFLW Premiership Season, in what will be a special year for the league as we celebrate 10 seasons of the competition," Kane said.
"The 2025 list has a valuable mix of umpires who have developed through State League competitions and earned senior selection, and they will be supported by 11 former AFL umpires, three of which have officiated an AFL grand final.
"To have the experience of Ray, Jordan and Chris in the field will aid the development and help guide our younger umpires as they progress their careers at the elite level."
AFLW Head Umpire Coach Annie White reiterated Kane's sentiments.
"I'd also like to congratulate all of the umpires who will run out during the 10th season of the competition, it's a testament to all the hard work, dedication and commitment they put into their craft each week," White said.
"It's pleasing to see of the 116 umpires selected this season, 42 are women – making up 36 per cent of the total, which is an increase on last year and a positive step towards our vision set out in the Women and Girls Action plan.
"As we head into the 10th season and reflect on the impact of the AFLW across the industry, it's clear the league has been a catalyst for the numbers reflected in the Women and Girls Action Plan, which is now about to head into phase two since it was launched in 2022.
"Over this time, we've seen a 72 per cent jump in women and girls umpiring which equates to nearly 1,200 umpires across the country at different levels. This is a positive reflection on the teams working in communities and our pathway programs, as well as our elite umpires who are inspiring the next generation of women umpires."
Former AFL Umpire Ray Chamberlain said he was thrilled to get back out on the field.
"I'm incredibly excited to maintain my involvement in umpiring in the NAB AFLW Competition, having first been involved in 2020," Chamberlain said.
"Being able to have a positive impact in mentoring the game's next generation of on-field officials is something that I am passionate about.
"The NAB AFLW Competition continues to evolve and provides a fantastic environment for umpires to learn and develop elite behaviours and standards."
See below for the full 2025 AFLW Umpire List:
