Fiona McBurney Match day Experience
The Fiona McBurney Match Day Experience aims to connect sport and disability by providing a unique experience for individuals to undertake an official guest AFL trainer role for the AFL umpires on match day.
The program will include 21 matches at Marvel Stadium commencing with the Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne match on Saturday 15th March. The program will also be returning to South Australia with four matches scheduled at Adelaide Oval in 2025.
The Fiona McBurney MDE program is named after the sister of retired AFL umpire Stephen McBurney. Fiona McBurney, who passed away in 2009, had Down syndrome and loved football, so naming the program after her was an ideal outcome for everyone involved.
“The Fiona McBurney MDE is such a popular and successful program. Down Syndrome Victoria is privileged to collaborate with the AFLUA to offer these incredible experiences in honour and memory of Fiona” said CEO of Down syndrome Victoria Dan Payne.
With the assistance of the AFL Umpiring Department, media and ticketing department, Down syndrome Victoria and our AFL umpires, trainers and our chaperones the program provides:
• Use of Marvel Stadium on Saturday/Sunday
• Continue as guest trainer for the day, assisting umpires, including the coin toss
• Attend a designated Tuesday training session at Marvel stadium to meet the umpiring and trainer teams, collect their gear and accreditation
• Continuation of the use of former VFL/AFL umpires in the role of match day chaperones to support the participant and family navigating Marvel Stadium
• The participant’s name list in the Footy Record under the Umpires
• Photo captured by AFL media
In 2024, there were many funny moments. Some participants:
- could bounce the ball better than the matchday field umpires
- felt they knew the rules better than the officiating umpires
- got away from their chaperone to be found in the Essendon huddle singing the club song after a match
- with the assistance of the umpires got to meet their star players before the match
- ruled the rooms with precision when it came ‘time to walk’ before a game and at half-time