An all-female umpire panel took the field in a senior men’s game for the first time in NFNL history last weekend.
The Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 clash between Watsonia and Ivanhoe at Binnak Park on Saturday afternoon was overseen by field umpires Lucinda Lopes, Grace Antoniou and Amanda Mowlam, boundary umpires Olivia Luke and Selena Henley and goal umpires Dianne Herman and Sarah Smith.
All umpires did an outstanding job which was noted by the competing clubs and the game was played in good spirits, Ivanhoe continuing their unbeaten winning streak with a 29-point victory.
NFNL General Manager of Football Darren Bassett said it was a major milestone for the league and the Northern Umpires Association which deserved to be celebrated.
“The league was really pleased to be able to be able to assemble this all-female panel. It’s recognition not only of their ability as football umpires, but also the level of female participation that we have within our umpiring ranks,” Bassett said.
“They did a fantastic job in a high-quality game of football, and it’s been great to see the positive commentary from clubs and supporters following the match.
“We’re always keen to welcome women, men, boys and girls who are interested in umpiring to come along to Northern Umpires Association training and see what it’s all about. Without umpires there’s no game, so we’re certainly keen to do whatever we can to ensure that our umpiring fraternity enjoy their time on the field whether that’s as a field, boundary or goal umpire.”
More about the first-ever NFNL all-female umpire panel
Lucinda’s first senior men’s game was in 2014, before progressing to the VFL/AFLW program in 2018. She’s returned to NFNL umpiring this season.
Amanda’s first men’s senior game was in 2011, and has also umpired Women’s Division 2 grand finals in 2018 and 2022.
Grace’s first umpired at senior level for both men’s and women’s fixtures in 2022. Since then, she’s umpired the Women’s Division 1 grand final in 2022, Men’s Division 3 grand final in 2023 and Women’s Division 2 grand final in 2025.
Selena and Olivia both started in Women’s games in 2024. Selena also umpired 2 senior men’s games in 2024.
Dianne did a couple of women’s games in 2019 but properly started umpiring men’s and women’s after the pandemic in 2021. She was part of the umpire panel for the Women’s Division 1 grand finals in 2023 and 2025.
Sarah umpired 2017-2019 in senior men’s football and umpired the Women’s Division 2 grand final in 2019. After a few years away from the game she’s returned to umpiring recently.
For more information on umpiring in the NFNL, click here.
