"It's been a great life."
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Goal umpire Brian 'Apples' Thomas has relished the many aspects of officiating.
He loves football and has enjoyed the challenge, the banter, the criticism and pats on the back.
He also likes umpiring big games so he's thrilled to have a cracker for his 400th match with Warrnambool and District Football Umpires Association.
Thomas, who is well known by his nickname 'Apples', will be officiating at the North Warrnambool Eagles versus South Warrnambool senior game at Bushfield on Saturday.
Ex-Richmond and Hawthorn player Tyrone Vickery will make his Hampden league debut for the Eagles adding some extra hype to the clash between fourth and fifth.
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Thomas never thought he'd reach the milestone which includes 98 games as a field umpire and 302 in the goals.
"No, not a hope, I just kept going because I liked it," he said with a laugh.
And he has no plans of putting away his flags for good anytime soon.
"I'll just keep going as long as the body lets me go," he said.
"If I stuff up that's when I'll give it away or I lose vision with it or lose interest in it."
While many are scared off umpiring due to copping criticism, it's something Thomas has enjoyed about the job.
I'll just keep going as long as the body lets me go.
- Brian 'Apples' Thomas
He said it was important for umpires not to let flak get to them otherwise it could affect their performance.
He has learnt to manage it in his more than 25 years of experience.
"Don't let it stress you out because once you get stressed that can rule your head, your life, everything," he said.
One of the highlights of his past 100 games was being awarded WDFUA life membership in 2019.
He said it was an honour to be recognised at the club's presentation night.
He retired aged 42 after playing 147 games with Dennington - including 38 seniors - as well as some matches with Tower Hill and Port Fairy.
Not long down the track, he was running the boundary for the Dogs' reserves team in the mid-1990s.
He'd step up to the central umpire position and that's where the WDFUA noticed him and asked if he'd join the association.
He explained he decided to make the switch to goal umpiring because his body was slowing down.
Thomas noted the game had become quicker over the years at country level.
"Everyone's looking to play on all the time," he said.
The Dennington resident supports St Kilda in the AFL.
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