AFL UMPIRING department manager Jeff Gieschen has announced the senior umpiring list for the upcoming 2008 Toyota AFL premiership season after the pre-season trial period for rookie umpires.

Gieschen said there had been five vacant spots on the senior list.

A number of candidates had been given a chance to impress in the pre-season AFL competitions with all those prospective umpires having officiated in a state league grand final within the past two years.

And the five new umpires are representative of the national spread of the games, coming from four states.

Senior list positions have been offered to Jason Armstrong (Qld), Todd Keating (WA), Jacob Mollison (Vic), Heath Ryan (Vic) and Shane Stewart (Tas).

Four other umpires were offered rookie contract positions; Corey Bowen (SA), Robert Findlay (Vic), Sam Hay (SA) and Gavin Statham (WA). Gieschen congratulated all the development umpires who had been part of the pre-season trial process and wanted to pay tribute to the various state league umpiring departments for their work in ensuring umpires were progressing to AFL ranks.

"We are delighted with the young umpiring talent we have coming through the ranks from state league football and all should be extremely proud of how they have conducted themselves through the rookie trial period," Gieschen said.

The umpiring appointments for round one will be announced next Wednesday, March 19, with weekly appointments confirmed every Thursday through the regular season.