Five umpires hailing from New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory have been appointed to the umpiring panel for this Friday’s AFL Sydney Derby XXXII.
The Sydney Swans and GWS GIANTS will meet for the first Sydney Derby of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season under Friday night lights tomorrow at the SCG.
Michael Barlow and Ben Fely will represent NSW/ACT as boundary umpires, while Taylor Mattioli and Alex Chisholm will serve as goal umpires, with Angus McKenzie-Wills as emergency goal umpire. See below for the complete match umpiring panel.
The derby coincides with the AFL’s Community Umpiring Week – an initiative that aims to highlight the invaluable contribution and role umpires play in Australian football.
Goal umpire Chisholm, who honed his skills in the AFL Sydney league before progressing to the AFL Umpires List, said it was a privilege to officiate this Friday’s 32nd cross-town derby.
“It’s special to be appointed to any AFL game, but the Sydney Derby is one of those matches that I always look out for when the fixture is released each year,” said Chisholm.
“It’s the pinnacle of footy in Sydney and it is a celebration of the growth of the game in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
“As a Sydney-born umpire, to be selected for the derby, it feels like I’m representing Sydney umpires and demonstrating that there’s pathway to the AFL for aspiring Sydney umpires.”
The feeling of privilege also resonated with boundary umpire Fely, who began his umpiring pathway in the AFL Canberra League before becoming an umpire in the AFLW, then the AFL. He said the derby is a significant match to officiate.
“The Sydney Derby has definitely grown over the years as the teams have had very close encounters in regular rounds and finals,” Fely said.
“From an umpiring perspective, the derby has a lot of physicality and momentum shifts so the game is never over until the final siren.”
Chisholm agreed.
“This match is a genuine grudge-match, with bragging rights on the line and even as an umpire, you can sense that,” he said.
“It’s always high intensity and you can feel the energy of the crowd. In recent years, I’ve been lucky to have been out there for some high-scoring thrillers between the two teams, and I hope we will get to witness another classic on Friday!”
As part of Community Umpiring Week, Chisholm, Fely and the other umpires appointed to the Sydney Derby will meet and greet a select group of aspiring junior umpires that have been hand-picked for a special match day experience at the highly anticipated fixture.
As well as meeting the officiating umpires, the junior umpires will stand alongside the AFL umpires as they walk on to the field of play and warm-up for the game.
They will also be part of the coin toss with the captains of the Sydney Swans and GWS GIANTS, before they take on umpiring duties themselves during half-time NAB AFL Auskick.
So what would Chisholm and Fely say to those considering pursuing umpiring?
“Umpiring is a great way to be involved in our game,” said Fely.
“It is a great environment that promotes inclusivity as everyone is on their own umpiring journey. It’s a great opportunity to stay fit and meet new people who can become lifelong friends.”
Chisholm shared a similar view.
“If you love the game, you will love umpiring,” said Chisholm.
“Not only is there the opportunity to one day reach the AFL and be out on the field and umpiring players you’ve grown up idolising, but you will also meet people who could become some of your closest friends, so it’s well worth giving it a go!”
Umpire registrations remain open ahead of the 2026 community football season.
New umpires can express their interest here.
Returning umpires can re-register here.
For more information about AFL umpiring, visit play.afl/umpire
For tickets to the Sydney Derby XXXII, visit Ticketmaster or watch live on Channel 7, Kayo and Fox Footy from 7.30pm.
Sydney Derby XXXII Umpiring Panel
Field:
- (7) Cameron Jones
- (11) Curtis Deboy
- (25) Nathan Toner
- (27) Andre Giafagna
Boundary:
- Luke Graves
- Chris Delany
- Michael Barlow (NSW/ACT)
- Ben Fely (NSW/ACT)
Goal:
- Taylor Mattioli (NSW/ACT)
- Alex Chisholm (NSW/ACT)
- Emergency goal: Angus McKenzie-Wills (NSW/ACT)