The countdown to the 2026 community AFL season across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory has officially begun, and the momentum among umpires is unmistakeable – with over 1,000 umpires across the state and territory already registered to take their place at the heart of the game.
New and returning umpires have been able to register for the upcoming season since registrations opened last November, with NSW and the ACT trailing only Victoria for the greatest number of umpires registered to date for the upcoming season.
The state and territory also boast the country’s second highest umpire retention rate – behind only the Northern Territory – with the current umpire tally in NSW and the ACT representing a 38% rise in registrations when compared to this time last year.
The pleasing rate of umpire registrations comes as AFL NSW/ACT recently announced the appointment of former AFL player and coach Guy McKenna to the newly established role of Coaching and Umpiring Manager.
A highly-respected figure within the AFL landscape, McKenna brings decades of elite-level experience to the position as a former Captain and Premiership player of the West Coast Eagles, and having held coaching roles at Essendon, Collingwood and the Gold Coast Suns where he was inaugural Head Coach.
As Coaching and Umpiring Manager, McKenna will apply a high-performance lens to the implementation and development of coaching and umpiring programs and pathways across New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, with the ambition of elevating coaching and umpiring standards and participation across the state and territory.
The umpiring community in NSW and the ACT enter 2026 off the back of a standout season last year that saw its umpires appointed to the umpiring panel for both the 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final and NAB AFLW Grand Final.
NSW/ACT umpire Michael Barlow was also nominated as Official of the Year following what was his fourth Toyota AFL Grand Final appearance as a Boundary Umpire.
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