There has been one major change in Casey O’Keefe’s umpiring career – that’s his incentive.
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O’Keefe will umpire his 600th match when he officiates Saturday’s Hampden league senior game between South Warrnambool and North Warrnambool Eagles at Friendly Societies’ Park.
He said his motivation to reach the big milestone was not the same as what made him first pick up the whistle 22 years ago.
“I started doing it to get fit and because I needed the money, extra money,” he said.
“But then I got to there and realised it was more of a club and I actually became good mates with the blokes there and the money is not that important now.
“I don’t think anyone knows what we are about there. People think you just go there for training and run your guts out.
“But you get there and it is like a club and you view each other like teammates. And everyone there likes a beer and a joke just like a footy club.”
O’Keefe, a self-confessed running enthusiast, said not all of his incentives had changed.
The 44-year-old said his love for running also helped him bring up 600 games.
"I've got an Apple watch and I run about 14 kilometres a game," he said.
"This weekend I have the game on Saturday and then I have to back it up on Sunday and do the (Warrnambool) district league final. So I will end up doing close to 30 kilometres for the weekend.
"So hopefully I can still walk after the weekend, I have already got an RDO sorted for Monday."
The veteran umpire said he and others trained hard during the week to make sure they met the high demands expected of them.
“I train two nights a week with umpires on Monday and Wednesday,” he said.
“On Tuesday and Thursday I go for a run for between six to 10 kilometres. Plus I do some stuff in the gym during the week.
“On Saturday it’s obviously the game and then Sunday I go for a slow, slow jog just to get the legs ticking over.
“But Friday is basically the rest day where you don’t want to do anything so you don’t pull up sore for the game on Saturday.”
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