Last Wednesday, the SMJFL Umpire Academy had the opportunity to train at the new state-of-the-art Hawthorn Football Club training facility, the Kennedy Community Centre. The Umpire Academy hosted its main training session alongside their Development Pathway Squad, with special guest AFL Umpire Nic McGuinness attending to assist with the development of our umpires, sharing his experience and knowledge from AFL level. The Umpire Academy will train at the Kennedy Community Centre once a month, providing umpires with access to modern facilities and exposure to a high-performance sporting environment. It is never too late to become an umpire! Take the first step to getting involved by emailing umpiring@smjfl.com.au.