By ADEM SARICAOGLU
CHELSEA Roffey and Jordan Bannister are both considered trail blazers within the AFL’s umpiring ranks.
Goal umpire Roffey was the first, and to this point only female to officiate in an AFL game, while Bannister recently made the switch from player to field umpire, and has garnered much respect from both players and the wider football community alike.
Though both stories are unique in their own way, there is a pair of sisters in Maidstone that can relate to the feats of both Roffey and Bannister.
Amelia and Kaitlin Beardmore, 19 and 18 respectively, both played Youth Girls football before swapping their boots for a whistle.
Though Amelia still occasionally lines up for the Altona Vikings, Kaitlin decided to completely give up earning free kicks for awarding them once she finished up in the Youth Girls.
Kaitlin believes her playing background has held her in good stead as an umpire in the Victorian Women’s Football League.
“It’s good to have the knowledge of a player and the experiences of playing when you’re umpiring, because you know how to handle certain situations, especially if things get a little bit out of control,” Kaitlin said.
Though Kaitlin, a paramedic student, now considers herself an umpire only, education student Amelia admits playing the game still gives her more satisfaction, despite how much she enjoys being an umpire, too.
“I enjoy playing so much. I love playing, the only reason I started umpiring was an extra bit of money,” Amelia said.
The Beardmores have umpired many games together in both the VWFL and in the WRFL at both senior and junior level.
Though both say doing so has little impact out on the ground, there remains plenty of friendly banter after games they’ve watched over together.
“Kaitlin’s fitter, I just know the rules better,” Amelia quipped.
“Even when you’re umpiring with somebody that you’re not related to, you’ve always got to question their decisions,” Kaitlin added.
“But when it’s your sister you get a little bit more physical with your discussion.”
Though Amelia would love to one day coach at AFL level, Kaitlin says following in the footsteps of Roffey into the AFL ranks is something she hopes could happen.
“Obviously, with the women’s draft and the opportunity to umpire a game like that, even though it’s a one off thing, would be awesome,” Kaitlin said.
“I don’t know if I’ll get that opportunity, but if I do that’s absolutely brilliant.”
