History Made: Amy Markusic Leads the Way for Women in Umpiring

History was made this season in the Perth Football League’s umpiring ranks, as Amy Markusic became the first-ever female Field Umpire of the Year.

A senior umpire since 2007, Amy has been a vital part of the Perth Football League for nearly two decades, with 313 games under her belt, including 167 league matches. It’s an impressive feat for someone who has brought passion, professionalism and a strong sense of commitment to every game she officiates.

When asked what the award means to her, Amy said she was quite emotional. In her early career, as a woman with a hearing impairment in a male-dominated field, this kind of achievement didn’t feel possible. It is important to her to show people that anyone can do it, regardless of gender or disabilities. If you have the determination to make it happen, then you can.

Amy is driven by a passion for all things football. She loves not only the game itself, but the sense of community that comes along with it, and as Amy says, umpires get the best seat in the house to experience the action in a way that most fans never get to.

“Being an umpire gives you that strong sense of community and belonging; there is a camaraderie among umpires, the culture and friendship, you feel like you’re a part of something bigger than yourself.”

Inspired by a determination to improve umpiring standards and a strong sense of community spirit, Amy has had a long and fulfilling umpiring career, shaping the experience and atmosphere of community football. She is also dedicated to helping the community off the field, having volunteered as a firefighter for over two decades. Amy is an inspiration to all those around her.

But when asked about her long list of achievements, including five A Men Grand Final games and a women’s state game, she will tell you:

“Trophies and medals don’t really matter to me; it’s more about supporting up-and-coming umpires and creating a safe environment for them because I know how challenging it was for me when I first started.”

Jack Crawshaw, the Perth Football League Umpiring Specialist, only had positive things to say about Amy and the way she conducts herself on and off the field.

“Amy is a resilient and highly professional individual known for her unwavering consistency in everything she undertakes. Amy leads with quiet determination; she brings a steady presence to every environment. Her resilience shines through in her ability to adapt and thrive under pressure, while her professionalism sets a high standard for those around her.”

Umpires experience an enormous amount of pressure during games. Not only do they need to be 100% focused on every moment, but they also deal with the challenges that come with live sport. Amy said this was a big hurdle in the beginning of her career, especially back in 2007.

“Not only do you have to learn all the rules, but then you’ve also got all the players and spectators who might not agree with you, and when I started in 2007, it was very male-dominated.”

But over time, she learned that players and spectators will always be passionate about football, and you can’t take it personally, though this is difficult for young umpires who haven’t been exposed to that kind of environment before.

Despite her successful umpiring career, Amy remains humble as she continues to give back to the sport that she loves.

“The time will come when I can no longer run anymore, so for now I want to hang on for as long as I can so that I can help create a safe environment for other women to play.”

Even after the PFL season had come to a close, Amy was still working. When we spoke to her, she was on her way to coach umpires at the Country Championships down south, stating that she wants to help support the future generations of umpiring in any way that she can.

Looking into the future, Amy wants to see female participation continue to grow both in umpiring and among players on the field. She would love to see more women not just in the junior categories but also playing in higher PFL grades and the WAFL. On a more personal level, she just wants to show her kids the importance of resilience and hard work. Don’t give up when times get tough, keep coming back, hard work will prevail.