CASEY O'Keefe has a mantra he sticks to when it comes to umpiring: keep it simple.
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His insistence on doing the basics right has earned him back-to-back Hampden league umpire of the year awards, as voted by the clubs.
O'Keefe, a 17-year stalwart of the Warrnambool and District Football Umpires' Association (WDFUA), received his accolade at the Maskell Medal function at City Memorial Bowls Club last Sunday.
"I reckon it's great," he said.
"I don't know who voted for me, or who didn't vote for me I'm sure a lot didn't but it's good recognition.
"They appreciate what we're doing."
O'Keefe said staying as fit as possible was the key to his success as an umpire.
"My philosophy is when I'm not quick enough any more to keep up, I'll quit. I still run every day, still try and maintain my fitness at 40," he said.
"You pull up a bit sore as you get older. I keep it simple and keep fit."
O'Keefe described the WDFUA as "a good family environment".
"We get the kids up there and then they drag the parents up and the parents go 'ohhh, they've got a canteen, they've got a bar'," he said.
"The kids will go home and the parents will hang around and have a beer and the next minute they're waving the flags."
The recognition as Hampden's top umpire also had an unintended purpose - it put the spotlight back on the shortage of whistle blowers.
O'Keefe said the situation had not reached crisis point, but the days of club umpires taking the central duties for senior matches were fast approaching.
"I wouldn't say we're in dire straits, but it's not looking good. I reckon within two years you'll be seeing club umpires run senior games of football," he said.
"It's nearly happened a couple of times this year, as I understand. I know boundary umpires weren't supplied in senior games in the District league twice this year.
"Basically we're only two hamstrings away from having to get clubbies to do (the centre), unless you put a kid up.
"But if you put a kid up to do a senior game, you've got to have two older heads with him."