Memories of 2016: Referees making noise internationally

While Australian players competed at the highest level on the world stage, 2016 saw some of Australia's officials also shining on the world stage.

Australia's top referee Kate Jacewicz had another big year. The 31 year old not only refereed her 7th W-League Grand Final but she was named the Referee of the Year for a 7th time at the W-League awards.

On the international stage Jacewicz officiated at her first World Cup at the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup where, along with Assistant Referee Renae Coghill, she became the first Australian since Tammy Ogston (2007) to be the main referee at a FIFA final.

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Jacewicz and Coghill were both awarded the AFC Referees Special Awards for their stellar 2016.

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Australia's second top referee Casey Reibelt also made her presence felt on the international stage with the 28 year old joining the experienced Sarah Ho as officials for the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

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Canberra's Allyson Flynn rounded out the international appointments when she ran the lines at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Flynn was selected as one of the AFC’s six member officiating team for the Olympic Games and was an assistant referee for the semi final between Germany and Canada.

All five referees are on track for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup with Jacewicz and Reibelt pre-selected in early January.