Cory Mahony had shelved a football career early on, having played at under 12 and under 14 level with Dennington and realising his love of the game didn’t necessarily translate into a particular proficiency for it.

But his main sporting love, cricket, still brought plenty of joy for Mahony. And so it was that he took up boundary umpiring to build up his fitness over the winter months.

On Saturday, the Warrnambool District Football Umpires Association member will officiate his 500th game, one week after celebrating 450 as a field umpire – the other 49 have been on the boundary.

Mahony’s umpiring career was put on hold in its infancy after a workplace accident saw him give the game away for a decade. But he was eventually coaxed back as a field umpire in 1997.

“A couple of mates said, ‘Come back, come back’ – it took about five years for them to convince me,” Mahony laughed.

He started out with just fitness in mind, but his love of Aussie Rules saw him continue on, wanting to extend his involvement in the game.

Now, he is happy to officiate alongside his son Lachie,19, who is a boundary umpire, while he’s played cricket at Wangoom alongside his other sons Chris, 26, and Braden, 17. 

The 47-year-old ranks the grand finals he has officiated and a remarkable draw match between Cobden and Port Fairy as the most memorable games he’s been involved in. Mahony thanked wife Lisa for her support.

He acknowledged all those who have had an influence on his umpiring career, making special mention of “wise man” Andrew Fergusson, Jim Rylance, Brian Dennis, Dedy Friebe, Jamie Lake, Casey O’Keefe, Locky Eccles, Jason Hughes, Greg Lemmens, Arno Pennings and Norm Gibson