Ms Ballinger said rules around vilification and auditory offences were designed to help everyone feel safe at matches.
“We know that everyone has the right to feel safe and welcome playing or watching footy, whether that’s at local footy or AFL and AFLW matches,” she said.
“This means any type of vilifying words or actions towards another person are not allowed and match bans apply to those found to be responsible for vilifying others.
“An auditory offence is the use of abusive, insulting, obscene or threatening language toward an umpire or another person in relation to the game and is graded according to a defined criteria and AFL football operations manager Darryl Collings will lead a session on how this is managed at club level through to a tribunal hearing.”
Ms Ballinger said keeping umpires safe and growing their understanding of the rules was another aim of the roadshow, with AFL and VFL umpire John Howorth to lead an umpiring program.
Wimmera Mallee Umpires Association, WMUA, head field coach Cameron Pickering said the association would take advantage of the development opportunities.
“The visit will promote umpiring in schools and developing umpires, providing opportunities to upskill volunteer umpires and clarify with AFL Victoria policy writers on some important developments in the vilification and auditory offences space,” he said.
Mr Pickering said the WMUA was attempting to recruit more boundary, goal and field umpires for the 2025 season and encouraged anyone interested in umpiring to consider attending the roadshow or to register their interest at play.afl/umpire.
Roadshow sessions on Monday will be:
Mentoring and development of junior umpires including club boundary umpires, presented by John Howorth, Cam Pickering and Kynan Stasinowsky, 4.30pm to 5.30pm at Coughlin Park.
Club umpire development and question-and-answer session, presented by John Howorth and Cam Pickering, 6pm to 7pm at Coughlin Park.
New coach induction session, presented by AFL Victoria’s Joshua Galbraith, 6pm to 7.30pm at 20 O’Callaghans Parade, Horsham.
Coach Your Way for female coaches, presented by AFL Victoria’s Georgia Case, 6pm to 7.30pm at 20 O’Callaghans Parade, Horsham.
Auditory offences and vilification workshop for all club and WMUA umpires, club representatives, coaches, league and tribunal officials, presented by Darryl Collings and John Howorth, 7pm to 8pm at Coughlin Park.
People wanting more information about any of the workshops can contact Ms Ballinger on 0427 825 519.
The entire March 19, 2025 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
