This page has been created as a Tournament FAQ for umpires officiating at the 2023 Masters 9s.
What is the date of the Masters 9s?
Saturday 25 November, 2023
Where is the venue?
Box Hill Rugby Union Football Club, Cnr. Middleborough & Canterbury Roads, Box Hill
Who are the teams?
We have 13 teams confirmed so far, with more expected to join (we have room for a maximum of 18 teams):
Men’s 35 + Teams – Port Melbourne Colts, Brunswick Mudlarks, Diamond Valley Magpies, Marcellin Bald Eagles, Cranbourne Eagles
Men’s 47 + Teams – Port Melbourne Colts, Brunswick Mudlarks, Diamond Valley Magpies, Marcellin Bald Eagles, Parkdale Vultures
Women’s Teams – Blackburn, Port Melbourne Colts, Dream Team
Where can I find the fixture?
Here is the fixture from last year – it will be updated when all final teams are confirmed. But it will give you an idea of the timings of the day. https://aflinternational.com/masters9s/fixture
What are the playing rules?
The playing rules for the Masters 9s can be found at https://aflinternational.com/masters9s/match-rules
Please take the time to read them and understand them, it will make your day much more enjoyable!
Don’t worry, they are very easy to pick up. We will also have an umpire’s briefing at 9.15am on match day to go over the rules.
Is there parking?
Yes, parking is available at the venue.
What about public transport?
Train – the closest train stop is Laburnum, on the Belgrave/Lilydale line. However, it’s a good 15 minute walk to the ground from the train station.
Bus – both the 733 and 765 stop right next to the ground.
What do I need to bring?
There is a dedicated umpire’s room in the clubhouse. There is only one clubhouse at the venue, so it’s very easy to find. This is where we will meet on match day.
You can’t see any footy from the umpire’s room, so if you want to watch the footy whilst you are on a break, we suggest you bring your own folding camping chair to sit on. This is because there is no grandstand at the venue.
There is also a large embankment overlooking Field 1. This is a great space on which to sit and watch the footy when you are not umpiring, so please bring a blanket if you would prefer not to sit on the grass.
Don’t forget to also bring yourself, and a whistle! Current AFI umpires – please ensure you bring your existing AFI green shirt, AFI umpire cap, AFI umpire shorts, AFI umpire wristbands and AFI black socks. For those of you who are new, we will provide you with a new uniform.
All umpires this year will be provided with an official off-field AFI umpires polo shirt (see below). Please note they are off-field, only the green shirts can be worn during matches.
Also, runners are recommended, but please bring your boots as this is Melbourne! On the subject of weather, you can find the weather forecast for Melbourne here.
Hashtags
If you are taking photos and posting on Instagram on the day, it would be great if you could include the hashtags #aflinternational and #masters9s. Thank you!
Who are the umpires?
Please find below the current list of umpires we have for the Masters 9s:
Field: Paul O’Loughlin, Laurie Girardo, Bruce Lister, David Smith, Joe Tartaglia, Brendan Corcoran, Avi Kulatunge, Jeff Chambers, Jesse Doherty, Josh Doherty, John Natoli, Luke Wong, Tim McBain
Goal: Dave Weatherhead, Eddie Kowalczrx, Robert Roscoe, Shelley Thomas, Neil Whatman, Bryan Crowe
Is there a roster?
Once again, Paul O’Loughlin has kindly offered to assist with putting the umpire’s roster together. This will be sent to you closer to the event.
From experience the roster will evolve during the day – to account for people who need a break, might need to leave early etc. But everyone will get plenty of games and the chance to rest as well.
How much fun is it going to be?
Heaps! See you soon 🙂
