Sale Umpires Association

10/05/2026

A small selection of photos from the historic first AGL Loy Yang North Gippsland Football Netball League and Sale Umpires all-female senior panel.

04/05/2026

Hi team,

It is with great pride and joy that I share some historic news with you all.

When I stepped into the role of Director of Umpiring in 2022, I arrived with a clear mandate and a personal mission: to fundamentally change the landscape of our panel. A primary goal was to actively recruit and develop women and girls into umpiring. Today, reflecting on that four-year journey, the transformation is undeniable.

We have successfully moved the needle from a 5% participation rate in 2022 to an impressive 20% in 2026. And we are not done yet.

Through the strategic introduction of our Women & Girls Come & Try nights, the appointment of two female coaches, and the pathway we established - which saw our first all-female Grand Final panel in 2024, and again in 2025 - we have been building toward a moment exactly like the one coming this weekend.

This Saturday, May 9, will be a landmark day for Sale Umpires and the North Gippsland Football Netball League. For the first time in league and Association history, an NGFNL Senior match will be officiated by an all-female panel.

This isn't just a win for the record books; it is a validation of the rigorous standards and the culture of excellence we have fostered over the last four years. We haven't just grown in numbers; we have cultivated the talent necessary to command a senior stage.

Make no mistake: this is not a token gesture. These umpires have earned their place through sheer ability and dedication to the craft. Their appointment is a testament to their hard work and the effectiveness of the programs we’ve put in place to support them.

I am looking forward to being there to witness this historic event personally. If you can’t make it down, stay tuned - I’ll be capturing plenty of photos to document this proud chapter in our association’s history.

Shane Garvey
Director of Umpiring
Sale Umpires Association
0402 552 003

AFL Gippsland Umpire AFL ABC Gippsland Gippsland Times SEN Latrobe Valley 91.9FM and SEN South West Gippsland 91.3FM

24/04/2026

Congratulations to Brandon on this massive milestone!

16/04/2026

Round 2 milestones! 🤩

13/04/2026

08/04/2026

Round 1 is upon us, and that means Jack will be running his 50th game for the SUA! Well done Jack, we look forward to many more!

17/03/2026

🚨 WANT THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE? 🏉

Sale Umpires are looking for YOU to join the ranks! 🫵

Are you:
👟 A current or former player?
🏃‍♂️ Looking to boost your fitness?
🏆 A footy tragic who just loves the game?
💸 Wanting to earn extra weekend cash (tax-free, no less!)?

If you answered yes to any of these, come down and see what umpiring is all about!

The Details:
📍 Where: Sale Main Oval
🗓️ When: Every Wednesday
⏰ Time: 5:45 PM

Earn up to $200 per game each weekend while staying right in the middle of the action. 📣💥

17/03/2026

Following consultation with Senior Heads of Leagues at a meeting on 3rd March, AFL Gippsland confirmed that no rule or interpretation changes would be introduced across Gippsland competitions for the 2026 season.

While several rule interpretation updates have been introduced at AFL level, the majority of Gippsland leagues agreed to maintain the 2025 community football interpretations to provide consistency and clarity for players, coaches, umpires and clubs heading into the season. This includes areas such as the stand rule, ruck nominations, insufficient intent and centre ball-up contests.

The West Gippsland Football Netball Competition (WGFNC) has confirmed they will adopt some, but not all, of the AFL interpretation changes within their competition. Clubs involved in WGFNC are encouraged to visit the league’s social media channels for further details.

11/03/2026

Congrats Terese!

🌟Recognising Female Leaders Across Gippsland🌟

As part of our International Women’s Day celebrations, we’re proud to recognise the incredible women who are leading the way in community football across Gippsland.

Today, AFL Victoria announced the 2026 Lead Your Way Program cohort, with 60 women from across the state selected to take part in the leadership development program. Even better — six of those leaders are from the Gippsland region, highlighting the strength of female leadership emerging from our clubs and leagues.

Congratulations to:
• Terese Bailey - Sale Umpires Association
• Cass Hackett – Bunyip Football Club
• Christine Harbour – Boisdale/Briagolong Football Netball Club
• Karen Lawlor – Nar Nar Goon Football Club & Nar Nar Goon Junior Football Club
• Ella Angarane OAM – Dalyston Football & Netball Club/ Bass Coast Breakers Women's Football Team
• Hollie Balcombe – Police Boy's Junior Football Club & Dahlsens Gippsland All Stars

Programs like Lead Your Way continue to build the confidence, skills and networks of women across community football — and it’s fantastic to see Gippsland so strongly represented.

We can’t wait to see the impact these leaders will continue to have across our game.

Read more:
https://play.afl/victoria/news/lead-your-way-program-returns-2026

25/02/2026

LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!

Don't miss out on this weekend's Women and Girls Umpiring Experience Hub this Saturday, with workshops, networking and guest speakers.

Register your attendance via this link ⬇️
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=KcwQ3vzW3UmcLuCZF1cVBYZtNFrHd-VBiVpHLuAMALNUM1VSUFlMSlhYODJXTTVUWlk2Mk40M0dMSi4u&origin=QRCode&qrcodeorigin=presentation&route=shorturl