History, debuts...and a new car park!
History made!
Field umpire Eliana Watters-Cowan made history last week by becoming the first female field umpire in the league's history.
The 20-year-old joined the WFNL at the start of the season, following eight years with the Newcastle Central Coast Umpires Association and a stint in the Northern Territory Football League.
Eliana was joined by fellow debutants Grace Murray (boundary) and Rachel Holmes (goal) in a record-breaking panel of seven female umpires.
See below for a full list of Division 1 milestones and debuts since Round 6. Congratulations to you all:
100 Division 1 matches
Terry West (boundary) - R17
Division 1 debuts
- Michael Harrison (goal) - R6
- Charlotte McKinnon (goal) - R8
- Liam MacGibbon (field) - R9
- Ollie Denning (boundary) - R10
- Logan Harrison (boundary) - R12
- Darragh Murphy (boundary) - R12
- Lachlan Munton (boundary) - R13
- Eliana Watters-Cowan (field) - R16
- Grace Murray (boundary) - R16
- Rachel Holmes (goal) - R16
- Jack Nelson (field) - R18
- James Bushell (boundary) - R18
- Thomas Kneale (boundary) - R18
- Talon-Kai Honeyman (boundary) - R18
- Aiden Muscat (boundary) - R18
- Lucas Russell (boundary) - R18
- Sebastian Wheelahan (boundary) - R18
Cowper St open
Umpires travelling to Hanmer Reserve can breath a sigh of relief after Cowper St was finally reopened to traffic in July. The project has created over 30 formal car parks, providing a much needed alternative to the busy Hyde St precinct. Work on the rear cricket nets remains in progress so please avoid the area for now.
In the big leagues
Congratulations to ex-WRFL umpires Adam Steger (goal) and Lewis Spiker (boundary) for their selection in the 2025 VFL finals series. Adam has also stayed on the AFLW list alongside Shamus Dundon (field).
Further congratulations to Bradley Heffernan-Benfield and Sam Polden for being appointed to the VFLW finals panel.
