The 2025 AFL Umpire list is here, with 10 new additions in 2025.
Following the departure of Sean Burton, Ray Chamberlain, Daniel Hoskin, Tim Lougoon, Jason Moore, Patrick Cran, Michael Saunders and Shane Thiele, the door has been opened for state league and AFLW umpires to break onto the list.
Two field umpires, six boundary umpires and two goal umpires have earned promotion.
After a year filling in for Eleni Tee who was on maternity leave, Nick Jankovskis has secured his place on the AFL list. Jankovskis, who umpired the 2022 AFLW Grand Final and made an unlisted AFL debut in 2023, umpired a further 6 AFL games in 2024. Nick has also been a committed member of the AFLUA, sitting on the executive committee in 2022 and 2023. Eleni Tee will return from maternity leave for the 2025 AFL season.
Nick Jankovskis made his listed debut in round 17 this year. (Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Jack Howard has also been elevated to the AFL field umpire list after umpiring consecutive VFL Grand Finals in 2023 and 2024. Howard was selected to participate in the AFL T4 Transition Programme in 2024, which is designed to fast track development of state league umpires for the AFL.
John Cooper has earned a spot on the AFL’s boundary umpire list after umpiring four VFL Grand Finals, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2024. Cooper is another participant in the T4 Transition Programme.
Jaco Jansen van Rensburg has been elevated to the AFL boundary umpire list. Jansen van Rensburg was a participant in the T4 Transition Programme in both 2023 and 2024, has umpired to WAFL Grand Finals (2023 and 2024) and ran the boundary in the 2023 AFLW Grand Final.
Anthony Laughton is another T4 graduate. Laughton has shown strong form in the VFL, umpiring the 2023 and 2024 Grand Finals.
Lachlan Menara mirror’s Laughton’s success, having graduated from the T4 programme in 2024 and umpired both the 2023 and 2024 VFL Grand Finals.
Adrian Pretorius participated in the T4 programme in 2024. Pretorius ran the boundary for the 2023 AFLW Grand Final and was selected as AFLW All-Australian boundary umpire. He continued his good form into 2024, umpiring this year’s VFL Grand Final.
Ben Williams has been elevated to the AFL boundary umpire list after participating in the T4 Transition Programme. Williams is a two-time SANFL Grand Final umpire, 2021 and 2023.
Braden Ford has been promoted the AFL goal umpire list following a strong career in the SANFL and AFLW. Ford umpired the 2021 AFLW Grand Final, then went on to do the 2022 and 2023 SANFL Grand Finals. Ford completed the T4 programme in 2023 and 2024.
Luke Monea is the second flag waver to earn promotion after three consecutive VFL Grand Finals in 2022, 2023 and 2024. Monea completed the T4 programme over 2023 and 2024.
Congratulations to all ten umpires who have earned their place amongst the most elite officiators in the country.
Article by Jackson Kerr