AFLW debut for emerging WA field umpire

Congratulations to WA Football’s very own Janhavi Kondhalkar on making her AFLW umpiring debut in West Coast’s clash against Melbourne at Mineral Resources Park on Sunday.

Kondhalkar, who’s worked as the Umpire Recruitment and Retention Coordinator at WA Football since the beginning of this year, detailed her whirlwind week which resulted in her first taste of AFLW action.

She said getting the chance to debut in front of family and friends in Perth made the occasion even more special.

“I was originally set to be the emergency umpire for a different match,” Kondhalkar said.

“On the Monday prior, while I was at work checking my emails, I received a phone call from my coach Annie White.

“She told me that I was no longer on the bench and would instead be making my AFLW debut.

“Hearing that my first AFLW game would also be in WA made the moment even more exciting.

“I was a little nervous on the Monday after receiving the phone call, but those nerves quickly turned into excitement. I felt incredibly honoured to be given the opportunity and couldn’t wait to experience my AFLW debut.”

The emerging field umpire admits it was a bit of a shock to get the callup in her debut season on the AFLW Umpiring List.

“I thought I would spend my first season as an emergency umpire, as a number of friends who came through the pathway before me had done,” she said.

“They used it as a great opportunity to learn and develop without the added pressure of being on the field.

“I was excited just to be involved in the match day environment, work closely with the coaches, and learn from the senior umpires.

“So, to be given the opportunity to make my on-field debut so early was a bonus and something I’m very thankful for.”

From getting started as an umpire nearly a decade ago through the Peel Football Netball League juniors competition “to earn some extra pocket money”, Kondhalkar’s umpiring journey has taken her AFLW and AFL National Under-16s Championships in 2024 and 2026 respectively, becoming just the third female field umpire to officiate a WAFL Colts game last year and winning the WANFLUA Ross Capes Medallist as Best Clubperson Field Umpire last year.

“I started umpiring in 2017 at Peel Juniors, originally just to earn some extra pocket money while continuing to play footy,” she said.

“However, the more experience I gained, the more I enjoyed umpiring and recognised the opportunities available through the pathway.

“As a result, I made the decision to step away from playing and focus solely on umpiring, which enabled me to begin officiating senior women’s and colts matches in the PFNL.”

Kondhalkar was thankful of the support of the WA Football umpiring team for helping her balance work and umpiring commitments, and opened up about what her role entails.

“I have really enjoyed my role and being able to work in a great company with a fantastic team who has been so supportive of my work and umpiring commitments as well,” she said.

“In my role. I am responsible for designing and executing recruitment and retention strategies, as well as driving efforts to bolster the umpiring community.

“I also oversee initiatives focused on increasing diversity in umpiring, particularly women and girls.”