Hally umpires 600th game

ALTHOUGH the final 22 games en route to a remarkable milestone took an unexpectedly long eight years to cobble together, umpire Vin Hally officiated his 600th footy match on Saturday, May 7.

The long-term teacher and field umpire took charge of a West Gippsland Competition Fourths clash between Phillip Island and Inverloch.

He kept his achievement low key and, with a 9am start to the match, there were few people on hand to witness it.

But that didn’t worry Vin, who finds umpiring a relaxing pursuit that enables you to focus completely on sport and leaves you tired but satisfied, knowing you’ve provided a community service.

The South Gippsland Umpires Association (SGUA) life member is still passionate about the future of the game and continues to mentor up-and-coming umpires.

After officiating his 600th match, Vin didn’t take time out to celebrate, being on hand for the afternoon’s senior action in the capacity of umpire observer and mentor.

By the next day, he was already back on the field with a whistle to his lips, officiating a veterans’ match, undoubtedly able to relate to the aches and pains of many of the players.

A ruptured right quadricep was partly responsible for Vin’s slow progress towards the 600-game milestone in recent years.

That was followed by the diagnosis of a brain tumour in 2016, and the halting of footy during the pandemic, but he soldiered on when able and plans to continue in that vein.

“I hope to, as long as my body holds up,” Vin said when asked if he plans to keep umpiring.

Asked if he’s considered waving the flags instead, he said he recently did so for the first time and discovered it’s a much tougher gig than he imagined.

But he said he was confident he got all the decisions right.

As for his 600th game with the whistle, Vin reckons he went well with that too.

However, he admits that if you ask an umpire how he or she went, that’s the response you will likely receive.

As has been widely discussed recently, there is a major shortfall of Aussie Rules umpires at community level, something that prompted the AFL’s recent clampdown on players abusing or even questioning the umps.

Vin reckons that respect for umpires has improved since he started out and that most people do the right thing.

He is always encouraging people to take up umpiring and ensuring they receive the necessary support to continue.

Vin stressed that the SGUA is an inclusive organisation that doesn’t discriminate on the basis of gender and that girls and women wishing to umpire will find themselves in a welcoming environment.

He said a number of families have umpiring in their veins, with kids following their parents into the role.

His umpiring career started in 1984 in the Bass Valley Wonthaggi District Football League, initially running the boundary line, but it didn’t take long before he was in the central role.

Vin would love to see new people come along to SGUA training sessions at the Leongatha

Velodrome ground on Wednesday evenings, which start at 6pm.

Training is usually followed by a meal at around 8pm.

“You get paid to get fit,” Vin said.

Anyone keen to learn the art of umpiring and join a sociable group is encouraged to contact the SGUA director of umpiring, Gary Scholz, on 0413 235 763.

The association can also be contacted by email at southgippslandumpires@gmail.com and has a Facebook page.