Riddell umpire Troy Cusack passes 700-game mark at just 27 years of age

TAKE one look at Troy Cusack and you would have little chance of guessing the number of Riddell District Football League fixtures he has umpired.

Riddell District FL umpire Troy Cusack might only be 27, but he's already passed 700 games as an official. Picture: Kylie Else

TAKE one look at Troy Cusack and you would have little chance of guessing the number of Riddell District Football League fixtures he has umpired.

The 27-year-old has crammed in more than 700 matches at an average of about 50 games per season since joining Riddell Umpires 14 years ago.

Cusack is one of the organisation’s most dedicated whistleblowers, regularly umpiring junior matches and senior fixtures on the same weekend.

“It keeps me fairly busy,” Cusack said.

“I’m almost doing two (or) three games a weekend, that’s why it’s got up so quickly.”

Cusack played junior football for Sunbury Lions, but was encouraged to become an official after helping out the club as a boundary umpire.

He jumped at the chance to become more involved in a sport he loves and has not looked back since.

“The under-16 team got me to do the boundary umpiring one week and every week for probably the last six or seven games I was out there just volunteering,” he said.

“One of the blokes that was umpiring in the field said, ‘Why don’t you come down next year and become an umpire?’

“It sort of went on from there.”

Milestones are not uncommon for the Riddell Umpires.

Legends such as Ollie Matthews, John Weston and Ian and Robert Semmons have already ticked past the 1000-game mark. If Cusack continues at his current rate, he could pass 1500 matches as an official before turning 45.

Riddell Umpires general manager Glen Shilling was one of the first to recognise Cusack’s potential after he signed up in 2002.

Troy Cusack has umpired 700 RDFL games. Picture: Supplied.

“His dad used to take him to all the games, his dad would always be on the sidelines munching on a pie or something while young Troy was running around,” Shilling said.

“He’s become a very capable and competent umpire and he’s great around the club.”

Asked whether Cusack had the potential to become the league’s most prolific umpire, Shilling said: “Anything is possible. Troy is very fit, very healthy and looks after himself, so I guess the destiny is in his hands.”

There was a time when Cusack, from Sunbury, dreamt of umpiring at a higher level.

But the relationships he has built with coaches and players in the RDFL have ensured he could not be happier officiating in a competition he knows well.

“They might try and give you a bit of abuse during the match but you go into the rooms after the match, have a drink with them and you’re best mates again,” he said.

“I understand where they’re coming from and when free kicks start going against them of course they’re going to go have a word with you.

“But after the game you look back on it, laugh and have a joke with them.”

Cusack started as a boundary umpire, but has steadily progressed through the ranks.

He has now officiated more than 200 senior matches and became the 11th person in history to achieve the 700-match milestone when Macedon played Broadford in Round 6.

“The passion for footy is the main thing ... but (also) the friends I’ve made through umpiring,” he said.

“The first couple of years I was quite nervous, (but) you get through it.

“The friendships I’ve made along the way have made me stick with it each year.”