- AFL South East Reconciliation Round – Friday May 19 to Sunday May 21
Initially started with the MPFNL’s Reconciliation Action Plan, as a member league of AFL South East, across all our competitions this Round is “Recognising Reconciliation”.
Reconciliation is commitment to strengthening relationships between Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians.
Not limited to, but headlined by the Red Hill v Pines MPFNL & SEWF matches and Tyabb v Crib Point MPFNL matches, we encourage all the AFL South East community to be a voice for generations as part of the National Reconciliation Week.
Across the competition, some clubs will be having smoking ceremonies or local elders participate in pre-match events, we ask Umpires to continue to show respect and work with clubs in facilitating these if they are organised.
- Junior Appointments – Will be sent out on Thursday 18th May
Our Junior competitions (AFLSE, FDJ & SEJ) have 54 grades of football which have all been re-graded for the rest of the season as per the Competition By-Laws.
As a result, all Junior Umpiring Appointments will be sent on THURSDAY 18th MAY.
Do not contact your coach (Xavier Willis – FDJ & Darren Murray – SEJ) if you have not received an appointment tonight via Officials HQ.
If you have not received an appointment by Thursday 18th May 7pm then please politely reach out to your coaches saying you are available.
If you are unavailable, please update OfficialsHQ and contact your coach immediately.
Any communication sent to me surrounding Junior appointments prior to the above will not be responded due to the above communication.
- AFL South East specific By-Laws
All specific competitions By-Laws are on Club Hub under the Rules & Policies tab, a reminder to please make sure you are aware of the specific rules for the competition you are umpiring. As an example, there is NO;
- “Insufficient Intent” rule in the Juniors
- Deliberate Rushed Behinds in the MPFNL, SEWF or Junior competitions.
If you have any enquiries or any doubts, contact your discipline coach.
- Junior Football – Rough Conduct (Dangerous Tackles) – Laws of Australian Football
Our primary role as Umpires is to officiate to the Laws of Australian Football, which are written to protect all players on the field.
We have seen (especially in Junior football), a growing number of players showing incorrect tackling technique which is putting other players in vulnerable positions and a high chance to be injured.
AFL South East’s direction for Junior Umpires is;
- If you are in any doubt of whether it is, or isn’t a Dangerous Tackle – pay the Free Kick.
- The action is to be penalised, not the outcome via Free Kick.
- If the force is excessive and may cause an injury, this may be considered Reportable.
18.7.1 Spirit and Intention Players shall be protected from unreasonable conduct from an opposition Player which is likely to cause injury.
18.7.2 Free Kicks – Rough Conduct A field Umpire shall award a Free Kick against a Player when that Player engages in rough conduct against an opposition Player which in the circumstances is unreasonable, which includes but is not limited to:
- executing a dangerous tackle on an opposition Player;
What is a “Dangerous Tackle”?
» The tackle consists of more than one action, regardless of whether the Player being tackled is in possession of the ball;
» The tackle is of an inherently dangerous kind, such as a spear tackle or a tackle where a Player is lifted off the ground;
» The Player being tackled is in a vulnerable position (e.g. arm(s) pinned) with little opportunity to protect themselves;
» An opponent is slung, driven or rotated into the ground with excessive force.
- Pay Dates & Pay Enquiries
As communicated at both Senior & Junior Info Nights, the AFL are responsible for Pays (not AFL South East), so please if you have any queries around;
- Pay Dates
- Pay Enquiry Form
All correspondence around Pays needs to go through the above Form, with all dates available to you on the Club Hub.
- SUA Social Event – Saturday May 20th
Following matches on Saturday May 20th, the SUA rooms will be open with Umpires encouraged to attend Kananook Reserve, Seaford with the Dreamtime at the G on the Big Screen for a social evening.
For more information head to the Southern Umpires Association Facebook.
The SUA are a wonderful support to AFL South East Umpiring, and would like to see as many Umpires become SUA Members as possible.
- Haydn O’Connor – Saturday May 20th/Sunday May 21st
Please note for all Umpires I will have very limited availability to mobile phone on this weekend.
Please contact your relevant coach for any match day matters as a first point of contact.
If you require further clarification please text 0473 924 968 and I will endeavour to contact you as soon as possible.