Umpire boss flags excitement for season 2023 amid sponsorship renewal

GEELONG’S top umpiring boss is excited for football season to return this weekend, with a strong cohort of umpires ready to take the field alongside a new major sponsorship deal signed through the end of 2025.

The Bellarine Football League (BFL), Geelong & District Football League (GDFL), and Colac & District Football League (CDFL) kicks off this weekend and Geelong Football Umpires chair David Chaston is confident motivation among the group is high.

“After getting through the last few years with COVID, we’re excited to enter a full season without any worry of the pandemic, following the full 2022 campaign,” Chaston said.

“We’re excited as a group and we’re excited to bring new recruits into the fold, it’s an exciting time to be around at the moment.”

While the local football scene will not change to a four-field umpire system, there are some developments on-field that players and spectators should keep in mind.

Chaston, who will begin his 34th season as a Geelong umpire, said there will be “tweaks” and more leniency enforced to the “stand” rule, but not much else.

He also pointed out player safety would continue to be at the forefront of every game, especially on the ground at loose ball contests and in close quarters.

“We’ll continue to be strict on all dangerous tackle, whether that be the sling tackle or anything above the neck, that will be a key focus to keep the game enjoyable and safe.

“There won’t be too much of a change at the local level here when it comes to the new AFL interpretation of the ‘deliberate out of bounds’ rule – it’s local footy, we don’t want to complicate it too much.”

Geelong Umpires has also inked a new three-year-deal with major sponsor Metricon, taking the partnership between the organisations to 20 years.

The deal will facilitate Metricon branding on all on-field uniforms.

“We always talk about the players, but rarely speak about the umpires and the challenges they face,” Metricon regional west manager Simon Taylor said.

“To be able to get behind and show some support to the game’s incredible umpires means a lot to us at Metricon, because without them, we wouldn’t have the game.

“The past 17 years as a major sponsor of the Geelong Football Umpires League is a testament to what a fantastic organisation they are.

“We are proud of the positive impact our sponsorship with the GFUL is making in the community, literally from the ground up.”

Chaston welcomed the renewal of Metricon’s sponsorship commitment.

“Metricon’s commitment to the Geelong Umpires allows us to continue developing the next generation of umpires and the Metricon logo will be seen on hundreds of umpiring shirts from Werribee to Colac and out to the Bellarine Peninsula,” he said.