After a period of instability, the AFL's umpires have secured themselves some security in the form of a new home base.
Essendon's spiritual home, Windy Hill, is set to become the headquarters for the game's officiators.
The AFL's tardy treatment of its officiating arm has been scrutinised by respected figures in the industry for some time, with their lack of dedicated facilities a fundamental reason for such criticisms.
Their coaching base has been in flux for years, with venues like Princes Park, Marvel Stadium and Bundoora intermittently hosting the men and women in green, but the AFL's decision to procure the Windy Hill site indefinitely represents progress.
AFL Hall of Fame Legend Leigh Matthews in 2024 called the inadequate facilities faced by umpires as "astounding and embarrassing".
As part of the renovations at Windy Hill, which were first announced in October 2024, home and visiting change rooms underwent upgrades along with improved umpiring facilities, AFL standard benches and crowd amenity upgrades.
Umpires have been busy officiating on club match simulations as a raft of new rules become a reality.
The stricter interpretation of the stand rule has been at the forefront of change.
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