Southern Umpires Association

29/10/2026

🏃‍♂️ SUPPORT CHARLIE FISHER – NEDDS UNCOMFORTABLE CHALLENGE 🏃‍♂️

One of our field umpires, Charlie Fisher, recently took on the NEDDS Uncomfortable Challenge to help raise funds to end homelessness in Australia.

The challenge involved 10 days of 12km, pushing Charlie outside his comfort zone for a cause that matters.

We encourage the SUA community, fellow umpires, friends and family to support Charlie’s fundraising efforts.

Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. If you can’t donate, sharing this post would also be appreciated.

💛 Help Charlie make a difference and support the fight to end homelessness in Australia.

🔗 Donate here: https://www.neddsuncomfortablechallenge.com/fundraisers/charliefisher/challenge-2026

I'm doing Nedd's Uncomfortable Challenge: taking on something that makes me uncomfortable, because 122,000 Australians sleep rough every night. Every $36 you chip in covers one night off the street. Rough night's sleep? Tell it to those sleeping rough. Back me here:

15/10/2026

**FITNESS COACH APPOINTMENT | HENNIE BRIDGMAN**

We’re pleased to confirm Hennie Bridgman as SUA’s Fitness Coach for 2027!

Hennie brings 11 years of coaching experience, working with recreational through to high-performance athletes. An Australian Athletics Accredited Distance Running Coach and Personal Trainer, she specialises in running strength and conditioning, sport-specific training and athlete development.

An Australian representative in the Half Marathon and 10km Cross Country, Hennie has 19 years of experience training and competing and is President of the Mornington Peninsula Athletic Club.

Having worked with SUA in 2025, we’re pleased to have Hennie back on board to help our umpires build fitness, improve performance and prepare for the season ahead.

Welcome back, Hennie!

14/10/2026

**COACHING APPOINTMENT | DARREN “HOLTY” HOLT**

We’re excited to announce Darren “Holty” Holt as our new Senior Goal Umpire Coach!

A Life Member of SUA, Holty brings more than 33 years of umpiring experience, including 10 years as a VFL goal umpire and two VFL Grand Finals. He has also held leadership roles as Director of Umpiring at AFL South East and spent a brief tenure with the Southern Football Umpires Association.

Holty’s focus is on developing the next generation of goal umpires through tailored training that builds on each umpire’s ability, confidence and knowledge.

We’re thrilled to have Holty’s experience and passion helping shape the future of goal umpiring at SUA.

Welcome to the role, Holty!

13/10/2026

**COACHING APPOINTMENT | MITCH HANSEN**

We’re pleased to announce Mitch Hansen as our new Senior Boundary Coach!

Mitch has been a senior umpire since 2019, officiating 111 senior games, including four Grand Finals.

Mitch is passionate about giving back to SUA and helping others progress through their umpiring journey. His focus includes strengthening boundary umpire retention, building fitness and standards, and developing a pathway that prepares umpires for senior football.

We’re looking forward to Mitch bringing his experience, energy and fresh ideas to our boundary umpiring group as we continue building for the future.

Welcome to the role, Mitch!

12/10/2026

**COACHING APPOINTMENT | RUSSELL “RUSTY” DAVIDSON**

We’re excited to announce Rusty Davidson as our Senior Field Umpire Coach, now directly under the SUA umbrella.

With 20+ years of umpiring experience, Rusty brings an outstanding background, including former Head of Umpiring at VAFA, former VFL umpire and current Women and Girls Talent Coach with AFL Victoria.

Rusty has been working with our field umpiring group for the past 3.5 years, helping drive on-field performance, off-field engagement and the development of our junior umpires into senior football.

We already know the quality Rusty brings. Now we’re looking forward to building on that work, strengthening our pathways and taking field umpiring at SUA to the next level.

Great to have you officially on board, Rusty!

12/10/2026

11/10/2026

**THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS**

The SUA is incredibly fortunate to have the support of businesses and organisations that get behind our umpires and what we do.

Our sponsors help us create opportunities for our members, support umpire development and continue building the culture and mateship that make the SUA what it is today.

A special thank you to our **Gold Sponsors — Frankston RSL, AH Signage, Insulater, Studworks, W**e Hop and Coastal Tours, Essentia Health and RPPFM** — for their continued support throughout 2026.

At our Presentation Night, we were pleased to recognise **Frankston RSL, AH Signage and Insulater** with a small token of our appreciation.

To all our sponsors, thank you for backing the SUA. Your support genuinely makes a difference, and we encourage our members and families to support the businesses that support us.

**We couldn’t do it without you.**

11/10/2026

**2026 GOLDEN WHISTLE – MITCH HOOPER**

The Golden Whistle recognises the SUA umpire considered most likely to progress to the next level.

This year’s recipient is **Mitch Hooper!**

A quiet achiever who continues to impress, Mitch has already accomplished plenty at a young age and shows no signs of slowing down.

As we said in his Boundary Umpire of the Year post, the world is absolutely his oyster. His future is incredibly exciting, and we can’t wait to see just how far he goes.

**Congratulations Mitch! A well-deserved recognition of the talent and potential you continue to show.**

10/10/2026

**TAMMY PECK FEMALE UMPIRE OF THE YEAR – HANNAH TYZACK**

Named after a true trailblazer of umpiring and local football, the Tammy Peck Female Umpire of the Year award recognises excellence and commitment to the craft.

Our 2026 recipient is **Hannah Tyzack!**

If we had another 20 or 30 Hannahs, the SUA would be flying! Week after week, Hannah shows up, puts in the work and gets the job done. Her consistency and commitment have been outstanding, and she’s had a fantastic 2026 season.

We’re lucky to have her as part of the SUA and look forward to seeing just how far she can go in 2027.

**Congratulations Hannah, thoroughly deserved!**

10/10/2026

**2026 CLUB OF THE YEAR – PEARCEDALE FNC**

The Club of the Year award is voted on by our umpires, recognising the senior club that best supports umpires, provides a welcoming and inclusive environment, plays in good spirit and has a positive influence on the game.

In 2026, **Pearcedale FNC has gone back-to-back**, taking out the award for the second year running with an outstanding **27 votes from our umpires!**

We reckon they must be doing something right!

Congratulations to everyone at Pearcedale. Thank you for the way you support our umpires and contribute to the game. A well-deserved recognition from the people who officiate it every week.