Female umpires leading the way

Canberra’s Tegan Cawley and Eden’s Shannon Kirkby are two female umpires on the rise and are looking to take their skills to the AFL in the coming years.

The two 17-year-olds capped off remarkable years with Cawley field-umpiring the inaugural Youth Girls Nationals Grand Final in Melbourne and Kirkby field-umpiring the Sapphire Coast Grand Final.

With the two biggest achievements for their age accomplished, these two women want to take their game to the next level and become the first ever females to field-umpire an AFL match.

While their hard working mentality and determined approach has gotten them so far already, Cawley and Kirkby are paving the way for other females to follow in their footsteps.

With Cawley and Kirkby coming through the ranks and with the first ever female goal umpire Chelsea Roffey appointed to the two 2010 Toyota AFL Grand Finals, a clear pathway is available for women looking to officiate at the top of the sport.

“I found the Youth Girls Nationals very rewarding and it also highlighted the opportunities that I have to umpire as a woman at the highest level,” Tegan Cawley said.

“I got to make great friendships with female umpires and learnt the skills and techniques that AFL umpires use.

“It was very insightful for all of the different levels of female football throughout Australia; it really helped not only the players but also the umpires to see where they are in comparison to different states.”

Cawley, 17, picked up umpiring only three years ago and has excelled in such a short period of time to be regarded as one of the most promising umpires to come through the system.

Coming from an AFL household, Cawley is following in the footsteps of her dual Golden Whistle winning father, but said she wants to go one step further.

“I definitely want to be the first female field umpire in the AFL,” Cawley said.

“The two main reasons I enjoy umpiring is the community factor, I really find it a rewarding experience with the community involvement, and secondly I think it is amazing for my fitness.

“It’s my main fitness and it keeps me going – especially with school and everything – it’s my way of living without dying from school work.”

Kirkby, 17, first got involved in umpiring as a ten-year-old and made her way up the Sapphire Coast AFL ranks to umpire her first Grand Final this season – in only her second year in the senior competition.

With another year under her belt, Kirkby said she aims to continue to improve as she strives for a career in the AFL.

“I was always at football games since my dad played and I just figured it [umpiring] would give me something to do while at the games,” Kirkby said.

“I love umpiring and with any luck I’ll get to umpire a few more games in Canberra next year and hopefully I get seen [by umpiring recruiters].”

This year a record 1048 umpires officiated in NSW and the ACT. This is almost a 14 percent increase from previous seasons.

The AFL is focused on providing positive game day environments for umpires and is committed to the slogan that Umpiring is Everyone’s Business.

For people interested in becoming an umpire next year can they please contact their local umpiring representative through the umpiring contacts page at www.aflnswact.com.au.

Photos: Main picture, Shannon Kirkby. Below, Tegan Cawley.