The growth of women's and girls’ football across regional NSW has been nothing short of phenomenal — and so too has the rise of female footy umpires.
In the Hunter Central Coast and North Coast regions, umpiring groups have been leading the charge in creating welcoming, supportive, and inspiring spaces for women and girls to not only get involved but to thrive.
Over the past 12 months, female participation in umpiring across these regions has surged. NSW/ACT has seen a 7.2% increase in year-to-date numbers for women and girls in umpiring — the second highest increase nationally, behind only the Northern Territory.
This isn’t just a numbers game with the North Coast having over a quarter of their umpiring group being women and girls — it’s the result of dedicated effort, creative programs, and a clear vision: to make umpiring an inclusive, empowering option for everyone.
A major milestone came when the Newcastle Central Coast Umpires Association (NCCUA) became the first Women and Girls Chartered Club in the state.
This recognition reflects their ongoing commitment to supporting and developing women and girl umpires, creating a culture where women and girls are encouraged, mentored, and celebrated.
On the North Coast, Montana Harvey has been doing an outstanding job as both an Umpire Coach and Women and Girls Liaison Officer — playing a key role in welcoming, guiding, and advocating for new umpires in the region.
And now, in a further boost to the program, we’re thrilled to welcome Jodie George as the new Women and Girls Liaison Officer for the Hunter Central Coast.
With passionate leaders like Montana and Jodie in place, the future of women and girls in umpiring is looking brighter than ever.
One of the standout initiatives helping to drive this growth has been the Girls in Green program — a softer entry point for women and girls to experience what umpiring is all about.
Over 2 to 4 weeks, participants get to try the different umpiring disciplines in a relaxed and friendly environment. It’s all about building confidence, skills, and connections before stepping into full group training.
The impact is already clear — not just in the number of girls taking the field in green, but in the culture shift happening across footy communities. Women and girl umpires are now a visible and celebrated part of the game.
As Tyler Hollingworth (Umpire Recruitment & Retention Lead – NSW/ACT) put it, “You can’t be what you can’t see.”
The more girls see other women umpiring, the more they believe they can do it too. And now, they're not just seeing it — they’re living it.
That visibility and support continues to grow at a national level.
Montana Harvey (North Coast) and Rachel Robinson (Hunter Central Coast) were recently selected to attend the 2025 National UMPowered Coaching Conference in Melbourne — an initiative designed to upskill and connect women and gender-diverse umpire coaches.
Now in its second year, the conference forms part of the AFL’s Women and Girls Action Plan, with a bold goal: to have women make up at least 40% of all accredited umpires by 2030.
Montana and Rachel’s selection is a testament to their leadership and the talent growing right here in regional NSW.
Montana Harvey-. "I absolutely love umpiring – the community is incredible, and I’ve met so many inspiring people through it.
It’s helped me grow in confidence, communication, and quick thinking, which I now value every day.
More women should give it a go – whether it's field, boundary, or goal umpiring, it’s fun, rewarding, and the female umpiring network is so supportive. Plus, you get paid to watch footy! Even if you don’t know much about AFL, I’d highly recommend it – I’ll be cheering you on!".
Rachel Robinson- "I love that umpiring is accessible to everyone - we have such a diverse group of people on the team. It's a paid hobby that allows me to watch the great game of AFL from a unique perspective and to be involved in the game without being tackled!''
''If you're like me and aren't very good at kicking and catching a ball but you want to be a part of community sport, then umpiring is perfect for you.''
''In 2023, we put together our first AFL Hunter Central Coast, all female umpiring panel for the women's representative game held at No1 Sportsground. It was so much fun to be a member of the team on that day and to see what we can do with increased female participation.''
''I hope that we see more all female panels in the future as the female players and the mums and sisters and aunts answer the call of the whistle and join the team."
Whether it’s a young teenager finding her voice, a mum returning to sport, or a player giving umpiring a go — there’s a place for everyone.
We are always looking for more members of the team in green.
If you're curious, keen to learn, or just want to be part of something great — come and give umpiring a go.
You might just love it.
For more information on becoming an umpire please click the following link: Umpire Registration Expression of Interest