Refereeing talent takes centre stage at Champion of Champions 2026
The depth of refereeing talent across community football was on full display at the 2026 Champion of Champions grand finals, with representatives from 16 referee branches coming together to officiate the action at Valentine Sports Park.
The grand finals provided a valuable opportunity for referees and match officials to showcase their skills on one of the biggest stages in the community football calendar, with many young officials stepping up to meet the demands of the occasion.
Community Football Referees Coordinator Cameron Duck praised the standard of officiating and the development pathways helping prepare referees for these opportunities.
“The Champion of Champions Finals really showed the depth of refereeing talent there is at the community level. So many young referees stepped up and handled the pressure of the occasion of the day. They’re a credit to the referee branches and the development opportunities they’re offering,” Duck said.
A total of 16 branches were represented across the grand finals, highlighting the collective contribution of referee associations and groups throughout the region in supporting and developing match officials.
The participating branches were Bankstown District Referees, Blacktown City Soccer Referees Branch, Canterbury Referees Association, Central Coast Football Referees, Eastern Suburbs Football Association Referees Branch, Football South Coast Referees, Granville & District Football Referees Association, Hills Football Referees, Macarthur District Football Referees, Manly Warringah Football Referees Association, Nepean Referees Group, North West Sydney Football Referees Association, Northern Suburbs Football Referees, Southern Districts Referees, St George Football Referees Association and Sutherland Shire Football Referees Association.
Their involvement reflects the important role referee branches play in providing development opportunities, building confidence and preparing officials to perform under pressure.
With young referees among those selected to officiate at the event, the 2026 Champion of Champions grand finals also served as a celebration of the next generation of match officials and the ongoing investment in community refereeing.
Congratulations to all referees and officials selected for the 2026 Champion of Champions, and thank you to the 16 branches whose representatives helped deliver the grand finals.
2026 Champion of Champions referees and officials
Abigail Stone, Rory Harris, Melinda Jenkins, Tessa Goddard, Lilly Martin, Valentina Tassa-rotti, Hannah Pola, Charlotte O’Dwyer, Hannah Stone, Matthew Christie, Malachi Smith, Blake Plummer, Harry Smith, Lewis Carruthers, Scarlett Ne-culman, Aneishah Texeira, Jana D’Souza, Taylah Stiskin, Dominique Ash-ton, Daniela Bice, Amber Taylor, Gabriella Arcidiaco-no, Lily Davoren, Max Davoren, Lucy Davoren, Lewis Hudson, Anara Banks, Riley Pike, Dean Pike, Lachlan Baker, Dut Deng, Makaylah Cuevas, Kiana Woods, Sebastien Bren-nan, Alexander Neal, Mia Rose Wong, Gregg Bakos, Chloe Holmes, Harry Wen, Riley Kamsler, Byron Whit-bread, Mark Gregory, Ivy Nguyen, Nicholas Broz, Beatrice Shimada, Michael Yfantis, Athan Bris, John Shaw, Charlie Al Chahin, Eli Hardie, Oliver Terry, Maya Michel, Ava Simpson, Tiffany Stel-maszak, Madeleine Hul-me, Matilda Egan, Carina Cortese, Sebastien Curtis, Marissa Kerameas, Ethan Napper, Aaliyah Elzein, Brendan Barlow, Tony Sassine and Sean Myers.
