Sport

Whistles at the ready for Goulburn Valley Football Umpires Association ahead of grand final day

By Liam Nash

Sep 19, 2025

Goulburn Valley Football Umpires Association’s Abel Chandler, Simon Walsh, Sam Villinger, Gerard Montgomery, Riley Kilgour, Aiden Maksacheff, James Meek and Andrew Moore. Photo by Liam Nash

They’re green, keen and ready for the big scene.

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Goulburn Valley Football Umpires Association has its lips pressed to the whistle ahead of the first bounce, with a monster grand final weekend on the cards.

Saturday sees the Murray Football League host its deciders at Moama Recreation Reserve while on Sunday, all eyes will be on Deakin Reserve for the Goulburn Valley League equivalent.

It’s big for the fans, huge for the players - and the occasion is just as important for the umpires.

GVFUA member Sam Villinger is gearing up to officiate his fifth senior grand final when Cobram meets Congupna in the MFL big dance, and after 13 years out of the game, he cannot wait for the siren to sound.

“It's exciting; it's always good to be acknowledged for your performances throughout the year. And to get a senior grand final, it feels pretty good,” he said.

“I started in 2004 down on the Mornington Peninsula, so I umpired four senior grand finals down there. But I've had 13 years out of it, so this is my first year back.

“It's been very enjoyable up here.”

Like the players, umpires are on the ground for the five months leading into September.

So, in Villinger’s eyes, what actually separates a regular season game from the biggest one of all?

“The game goes up a notch, the standard is a lot better when the top teams are out there,” he said.

“The weather's generally better, but I think it's going to be a bit cold on the weekend.

“Obviously, the senior grand finals are a big one, so it's exciting to be back out there on a senior granny.”

Villinger is among a select group of umps given the tap for the big day.

There is a diverse cast set to take to the oval, with eight umpires set to referee their first senior grand finals this weekend, five of whom are female.

Cara Cook will line up between the big sticks in the MFL decider, while her daughter Phoebe will do the same in the GVL, making her the youngest goal umpire to step up for a grand final in the league.

It builds on the GVFUA’s family connection after the father-daughter pairing of Glen and Erica Hayes officiated the Kyabram District League senior final at the weekend.