I had the pleasure of sitting down recently with Simon Plumridge – milestone man and all-round top bloke – to chat to him about his career to date.

How did it all start?

I played footy until I was 13, but I wasn’t much chop. I enjoyed going to watch my local senior team and I’d see the umpires and think that would be cool to do – a good way to be involved in the game and to earn a little pocket money. Then I saw an ad in the local paper, phoned the coach and got stuck in from there.

You’re one of the fitter goal umpires going around. Have you always been between the sticks?

Yes, I’ve always been in the goals. It’s the role that appealed to me most. Fair to say, I wasn’t the fittest when I first started; it’s something I really had to work on and apply myself at.

When did you realise that you could progress your career?

At the end of my second season, I umpired the Eastern Football League (EFL) Division Two Senior Grand Final. The match was tied at full time, so went into extra time. That really fuelled my desire to umpire in big games and I started thinking about and working towards coming to the VFL. The people who were most influential to me were the other goal umpires, who really encouraged me and inspired me. My first coach, Graeme Williams, was very important, too.

Describe your experience of trialling at the VFL.

I was very nervous and excited to get the chance to trial. The environment I stepped into was a far cry from where I’d come from – much more professional. I relished it and dove in. My first practice game was at Arden Street and I wore my local EFL top, as they didn’t have any shirts for trialees. I buddied up with a couple of other first years, including current AFL umpire Dylan Benwell. We shared a lot over those first couple of years.

Speaking of Dylan, Leigh Keen once described both of you as ‘once in a century’ umpires. Give us your thoughts on this and also your bond with Dyl.

It’s very humbling to be thought of in such a way by someone of Leigh’s stature. An amazing umpire and person, Leigh was instrumental in my umpiring development. At the time, I was chuffed to receive such praise. Now I’m a little embarrassed by the label.

Dyl and I have shared a friendship since that first year in 2011. It’s been great to grow and develop as umpires together over the years. I was stoked at the end of last year when he was elevated to the AFL; he’s an extremely talented umpire and deserved his spot after his second Granny. At least he’s living up to his label!

Who’s been most influential on your career to date?

Leigh was outstanding when I first got to the VFL. Steve Stirling was another big influence in the short time before he was promoted to AFL Head Coach, and also David Flegg and David Dixon – the way they think about, coach and approach the game.

As for umpires, the people I’ve looked up to who’ve been very influential – Steve Piperno, Pete Balding, Michael Craig, the list goes on! I’ve got a lot of people to be thankful for.

What are the highlights of your career so far? The lowlights?

All the finals I’ve been involved in. The VFL Grand Final in 2015 is very special to me – a great day with a great panel. Also being involved in the 2016 State Game in Adelaide was a great experience. I’m lucky that lowlights are really few and far between. Missing most of 2016 through injury was very tough, but it’s an experience I’m still working through and learning from. You get to meet so many great people through umpiring – funny moments involved spending time with those people. There are too many to count, although it’s fair to say that games nights at training and Mad Mondays make up most of those moments of fun.

How was your milestone game?

It was a good day overall. I think the most special aspect of the day was the support I got from family, friends and fellow umpires. The game was a real arm-wrestle; players on both teams battled hard all day. The wind was certainly a factor and, in the end, Casey probably played the conditions better at their home ground [than the Northern Blues].

Whom did you pick to partner you in the goals for the day?

Sam Walsh. I’ve umpired with Sam for a long time – we umpired at local level for a few years and did a Senior Grand Final together.

Some quick-fire questions to finish off…

Best you’ve umpired with: I’ve had the privilege of umpiring with lots of great umpires – Dylan Benwell, Steve Piperno and Michael Craig spring to mind. The most consistent umpire I think I’ve ever run with would be Matthew Dervan – absolutely amazing.

Best coach: Four-way tie between Stirling, Keen, Flegg and Dixon! This may seem like a bit of a cop-out but I honestly can’t split them. They were obviously all amazing umpires in their own right and just the knowledge and experience they bring to coaching is phenomenal. They’re all very different coaches but have all had a big impact on me and my umpiring.

Best trainer: Another tie here – Dylan Benwell and Kate Griffiths. Both work really hard on their fitness and skills – and it shows. 

Funniest: I think Anthony Kyrkou and Callum Leonard, often featuring Chris Doyle or Sam Walsh, have proven to be funny over the years.

Strangest game day ritual you’ve seen: Having to show Cyrus that you’ve got a coin for the toss; Benwell and, more recently, Matty Edwards wearing their caps backwards before a game; Edwards again playing with a downball pre-game to warm up; and Doyley getting changed at the last possible moment.

Congratulations, Simon!

– Cyrus Wong

I was recently asked to sit down with a long-standing umpiring colleague, and one of my closest friends – Cyrus Wong – to get a feel for his time at the VFL as he notched up game 100 recently at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

My earliest memory of Cyrus comes from umpiring in a junior interleague carnival at Bulleen Park. I remember it being not only the first time I’d ever seen an Asian goal umpire – but also the first time I’d ever met anyone named Cyrus!

His notoriety around the Diamond Valley Football League (as it was then known) was almost instantaneous – not only for the diversity of his cultural background – but also for his ability as a first-year umpire.

Cyrus only spent two seasons at the DVFL before being sent to the VFL and he has never looked back!

JF: When did you start umpiring footy, and why did you start?

CW: I started in 2006. At Diamond Valley Athletics Club, Kim Miles, who was in my training group, always tried to recruit umpires from athletics, so, loving footy but not wanting to play, I took up her offer.

JF: What is the most memorable moment in your umpiring career?

CW: Umpiring the 2012 TAC Cup Grand Final and adjudicating the golden point which Jack MacRae kicked to win it for Oakleigh. That day I was with Jack Edwards, whom I’d umpired with in the Diamond Valley, and Tim Carlos, who remains a close friend.

Also, I like to see how players from that day are progressing – the likes of MacRae, Tim Membrey, Nick Graham, Jamie McMillan and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.

Any chance to be on Etihad Stadium or the MCG, in fact, has been memorable

JF: What made you choose goal umpiring over the other disciplines?

CW: Kim Miles and I were both sprinters and, although she herself boundary umpired locally and recruited others to boundary umpire from the club, I felt that my sprinting background and lack of endurance would make me more suited to the goals.

JF: How have things changed since you’ve been at the VFL?

CW: There are way more umpires because there is a lot more footy to officiate, such as the VFL Women’s competition. Also, after the amalgamation of the AFL Reserves and the old VFL in the late 1990’s, I’ve seen AFL clubs start their own VFL sides and I wouldn’t be surprised if we came full circle before too long.

One other thing – something the young’uns will find hard to believe – it that the AFL umpires used to train with us at Victoria Park and I think that it’s detrimental to both parties that this Is no longer the case. As a developing umpire, I found it extremely valuable to have AFL umpires there every week from whom I could get feedback and answers to any questions I had.

JF: What is one piece of advice you would give to umpires that might be in their first season, or who are relatively new to the list?

CW: It’s very hard to limit my response to just one thing, but I’ll try to keep it brief!

Not just for goal umpires, I’d say be clear within yourself what you want to achieve and set your mind firmly to those goals, not letting anything get in your way. You’ll get plenty of kicks up the backside, so be resilient – and patient. Things worth doing take time.

At the same time, celebrate the little wins you have along the way, but never get ahead of yourself. Do whatever it takes, get the very best out of yourself and – though clichéd – enjoy what you do and appreciate the opportunity you’ve been given to umpire at this level.

For a shortarse like me, it’s not every day, for example, I get to stand next to people like Mason Cox or Jason Holmes, who are 7 feet tall!

It was a welcome chat to have with Cyrus, whom I believe is a real testament to the hard work and focus he mentioned in the interview. As someone I have looked up to, particularly when I made the decision to take up goal umpiring, he has always provided calm and level-headed advice and been able to render my thinking into a different form when things weren’t going so well.

He also touched on some personal achievements, such as maintaining his performance for long enough to make it to game 100 and also the amount his fitness has improved over time, as things he holds dear when he thinks about his umpiring journey.

For me, umpiring has always been a place that’s full of mates – people you just really enjoy being around and learning from. Cyrus holds the invaluable characteristic of loyalty as a colleague and a friend, and I will definitely have being part of his panel on his 100^th VFL game as part of my memorable umpiring moments for years to come.

Congratulations, Cyrus Wong on 100 VFL Games!

– Josh Forner