The umpiring panel for the 2025 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final has been appointed.

History will be made with goal umpire Georgie Henderson set to become the first female to officiate a VFL Grand Final.

Meanwhile, Sam Button will become the first boundary umpire from NSW to feature in the VFL Grand Final umpiring panel.

Get to know the umpires who will preside over the 2025 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final between the Footscray Bulldogs and Southport Sharks at IKON Park on Sunday.

FIELD

Sam Ferguson
Sam started his State League journey in 2017, after being recruited from the Eastern Football Netball League. In his first few years with the State League, he was appointed to VFLW games as well as Under 18 TAC Cup Boys competition and VFL Development League. Sam umpired the VFLW Grand Final in his first year in 2017 and the Under 18 NAB League Grand Final a year later. He was also named as Best First Year umpire in 2017.

Sam made his senior VFL debut in Round 5 of the 2019 season and after the two interrupted Covid years, he has become a permanent fixture at senior level. Sam umpired his 100th VFL game this year, between Frankston and Essendon im Round 13.

Season 2025 has been Sam’s best year, umpiring 21 senior games, as well as every week of the finals. He has now umpired 10 VFL finals. Sam’s selection to the 2025 VFL Grand Final will be his first VFL Grand Final.

Joel Clamp
After being recruited from the Northern Football Netball League, Joel started his State League career in 2017, predominately umpiring in the Coates Talent League Boys and VFLW competitions. The following year, Joel continued his umpiring pathway, being selected to the TAC Cup Grand Final and making his senior VFL debut in the Round 7 match between Box Hill and Northern Blues.

Joel was the inaugural winner of the Rising Star award in 2023 and was named the AFLW Umpire of the Year in 2023, as well as umpiring in his second of two AFLW Grand Finals.

This year, Joel was selected by the AFL to be a part of their AFL Rookie Program, a program designed for talented and promising umpires. He was also named VFL Umpire of the Year in 2024 and 2025. This year’s appointment to the VFL Grand Final is the second consecutive Grand Final for Joel, after umpiring last year’s Werribee v Southport devider.

Joey O’Brien
Joey currently resides in Sydney but grew up in Singleton, NSW and started umpiring in the Black Diamond AFL competition in 2013.

In 2018, Joey continued his development pathway, umpiring in the Sydney AFL competition, before debuting in the VFL competition in 2022, as a development umpire, and joining the senior VFL list in 2023.

This year saw Joey umpire his 50th senior VFL game, as well umpiring in three finals. He now has umpired five finals in total. 2025 will be Joey’s first VFL senior Grand Final.

Emergency: Sam Whetton
Sam is one of five VFL listed umpires who hail from Queensland. At 25 years young, Sam is the youngest of the Grand Final field umpiring team.

Sam has umpired 75 senior VFL games, as well as nine NEAFL games prior to the current set up of the competition.

In 2024, Sam umpired the VFL Grand Final between Werribee and Southport, in addition to the AFLW Grand Final. He has been selected as emergency for this year’s VFL Grand Final.

BOUNDARY

Harrison Bell
Harrison has enjoyed a rapid rise through the State League program, with this Grand Final coming in his second season on the senior list after a preliminary final appearance last year. This season, through injuries at AFL level, Harrison was called up to umpire in six AFL matches, and did a fantastic job in those games, showing he is well and truly capable of taking that next step. Harrison is a hard worker on the track, and a leader off it, and has a very bright future ahead.

Mitch Dorling
Mitch has also had a quick rise to the top of VFL ranks, also in his second season as a senior listed umpire, with a preliminary final appearance in his first season. Mitch umpired two AFL games this season, showcasing the talent he has on the big stage. Whilst he has been achieving great things himself, he is a very selfless umpire and always takes the time to celebrate others’ wins and milestones, a great quality, and makes him a respected umpire by his peers.

Mitch O’Neill
A product of Bendigo, Mitch has had a fantastic season. In 2023, he umpired in Wildcard Finals, in 2024 he officiated a second semi and has gradually improved over the last couple of years. Finally, after lots of hard work, Mitch gets the ultimate reward in 2025. Mitch sets a high standard for himself and works hard to meet that standard each week. A few niggles early in the piece, Mitch worked hard to make sure he was back at his best in no time. This Grand Final is a great reward for a lot of hard work and dedication.

Sam Button
Finally, after four straight preliminary final, Sam has broken through to his first VFL Grand Final where he will become the first boundary umpire from NSW to officiate the VFL Grand Final. Sam umpired three AFL games this year adding to the one game he umpired in 2023, proving he has what it takes to officiate at the next level. A hard working, engaged, and respected member of the NSW panel, it is great to see reward for Sam after multiple years of umpiring at an elite standard.

GOAL

James Rizio
James commenced his career with the Eastern Football Netball League, before making his VFL senior debut in 2018. His career stats sit at 117 VFL matches, including 16 finals. James has featured in the past four VFL Grand Finals, umpiring the 2024 VFL 2022 VFL Grand Finals, and was emergency umpire for the 2019 and 2023 Grand Finals. He also umpired the 2023 Coates Talent League Grand Final showing he has been an exceptionally consistent performer over several seasons. James showed strong performance in the home and away season across 18 VFL matches and was this year named the 2025 Goal Umpire of the year.

Georgie Henderson
Georgie will make history as the first female to officiate a VFL Grand Final. She commenced her VFL career in 2023 after transitioning from the SANFL and has umpired 44 VFL games to date. Georgie was named the 2022 AFLW Rising Star umpire and was selected to umpire the 2023 and 2024 AFLW Grand Finals. This year, Georgie was selected by the AFL to be a part of their AFL Rookie Program, a program designed for talented and promising umpires. Georgie was also this year awarded the 2025 VFL Rising Star for Goal Umpiring.

Emergency: John Varker
John commenced his career with the Bendigo Umpires and has umpired 19 VFL games this year. His career stats include 140 VFL matches, including 15 finals. John umpired the 2023 VFL Grand Final and was also in the same year awarded the VFL Goal Umpire of the Year. John also umpired the 2022 Coates Talent League Grand Final and the 2024 AFLW Grand Final. In 2024, John was selected as the All Australian AFLW Goal Umpire.