Liam Pain – VFL Senior Boundary Umpire

First started umpiring with?
Sunraysia football association
What made you take up umpiring?
My U16s footy coach didn’t put anyone on the field that wasn’t his son or his son’s friends. So I decided to get some money and get on the field
What were your career highs or lows?
Highs- last year, umpiring senior finals
Lows- having a recall in the senior semis
Most memorable umpiring moment
Umpiring the last home and away game of season. In my second year the top 2 sides in Sunraysia were playing, winner won the minor premiership and it was between another boundary and I to get number 1. We ran 20km that day and walked off the ground wrecked.
Most forgettable umpiring moment
My grand final after party performance last year
Most influential coach/mentor in umpiring?
My U18’s footy coach, Patrick Irwin
Best advice given to you early on in your career?
Don’t stuff up,
Most influential fellow umpiring peer?
William O’Connor, an umpire back home that couldn’t run 400m without stopping when he started. In his 3rd of umpiring year he got the senior gf.
What do you like most about being an umpire?
The team environment
What can you not go without doing on match day? (pre game routine, superstitions or rituals?)
Listening to Chisel on the way to the game
Favourite sport besides footy?
Cricket
What’s your best sporting experience outside of footy?
Debuting in the seniors in cricket in the gf (I was 12th man, because I was good in the field, but it still counts)
What are the benefits of being a VFUA member?
Social functions, professional representation and cheap stuff from the partners (eg Nike)
What’s your occupation/day-job?
Student, I’m in my final semester of PE/maths secondary teaching
Favourite food?
Free food
Favourite movie?
The Dark Knight
Favourite artist/band?
Cold Chisel
Favourite holiday destination Murray river, back in Mildura
Most admired person, why?
The old man because he had to put up with a house full of pain for 18 years, while still providing for us.