From ex AFL to VFL royalty, mixed with exciting young talent coming through the ranks, the EFNL in 2023 is sure to be in good hands being lead with the return of Scott Van Noordennen.

Ex AFL experience, VFL listed returns, young talent and league seasoned greats will make up this years cohort of the Eastern League’s umpiring divisions.

Here is a snapshot to some of the names you will see holding a whistle in the upcoming season.

Field

Dan Beard

No introduction needed! Dan not only goes down as one of the greats to have officiated at the VFL level, clocking up a record 224 Games over his 15 year reign. With the stats continuing, last year marked Dan’s 10th EFNL premier grand final. Committing to another season, Dan will again be taking the field to do what he does best.

Damien Sully

Damien entering his 8th Season at the league, having umpired 46 AFL games and back to back VFL umpire of the year in 2004 & 2005, it goes without saying his experience to the league is highly valued amongst his peers and players.

Damian De Vincentis

Making his return to the league in 2022 after some time away from the game, Damian nephew of league favorite Maurice brings a wealth of experience having achieved the highs of umpiring at the VFL and NAB cup levels. Having also played the game at TAC cup level for the Northern Knights has given Damian a greater understanding to the dynamics of both sides of the table come match day.

Daniel Phillips

Making the transition from boundary to field, Daniel has fast become a regular face in our premier divisions. His athletic ability is what separates him from the rest with the future incredibly bright on where Daniel can take his umpiring aspirations.

Katrina Stopiniski

Leading our growing female presence amongst the divisions, Katrina has been a prominent figure in the leagues higher grades over recent years. Officiating the Division 4 Grand Final in 2022, Kat is set to hit the ground running from where she left off. 2023 will see Kat take on an official role amongst the group, leading and developing our flourishing female umpires across the panels.

Justin Baker

A young prospering talent quickly learning his craft is sure to see Justin becoming a regular in the higher divisions in 2023. A naturally gifted athlete mixed with poised decision making is placing Justin as a contender for a name to watch in the coming years amongst the league and beyond.

Holly Mastin

Holly’s pure passion for the game and composure on match day is an area of her game that has gained her significant respect across the league. 2023 is a year sure to see Holly gain ground on her exceptional season had in 2022.

Image - Holy Mastin in full control. Photo: Chris Powney Photography

Nick Palmer

Enthusiasm and dedication is never forgotten in Nicks footy bag once the season is up and away. With an impressive return to pre-season in 2023, Nick has his sights on the prize this year to ensure no stone is left unturned when match day comes and decisions are there to be made. Nick is sure to go deep into September with his strong attitude, experience and talent he displays week in week out.

Jarrod Faoro

Having raised the bar in 2022 seeing Jarrod make his debut umpiring the Premier division Grand Final, we are sure to see Jarrod return hungry to set the tone early in 2023. His work rate and presence on match day is second to none, leading our senior group while instilling his wealth of experience to the younger groups is full credit to the career Jarrod has had in the caper having umpired at state and league levels over a long period of time.

With umpiring being an integral component to our game, anyone interested in entertaining becoming an umpire please get in contact with EFNL umpire operations manager Scott Van Noordennen at svannoordennen@efnl.org.au

EFNL Umpiring – A glimpse of the experience and talent in 2023

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