Having worked at Westpac Bank for the past 36 years, Mike Semmens is used to handling big figures.
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So the evergreen goal umpire will be well prepared for the occasion when he strides out for his 600th game with the Northern Tasmanian Umpires Association on Saturday.
Arriving at training in Launceston in 1993 following ten years as a central umpire in St Helens, Semmens has since amassed 13 NTFA first division grand finals, four NTFL grand finals and several more in statewide football.
One of the NTFUA's most popular figures, the 52-year-old said friendships had kept him coming back year after year.
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"To be honest now it's not so much about the footy, it's who you're umpiring with - the friendships I've made there have been invaluable," Semmens said.
"Even if I wasn't umpiring I'd still go up there [to training] every week - that's moreso why I do it, I've done everything I can do in umpiring.
"I've made so many great friends, I've got godkids out of it.
"I'm still aiming to be the best I can and do the best I can, but at the end of the day it's all about relationships."
Awarded NTFUA legend status in 2013, Semmens credits his parents with a career that very few Tasmanian umpires can match.
He encouraged anyone interested in goal umpiring to attend training at Prospect Park on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and pointed to the recent success of two young NTFUA umpires as proof of how quickly new talent can progress through the pathway.
"The most enjoyment I get is seeing the other umpires, younger people especially, succeed," he said.
"I've done my bit but to see them do it now is extraordinary - umpires like Casey Fellows and Ollie Bennett getting called up to the AFLW under-18 championships on the Gold Coast.
"That's the sort of thing I get the most enjoyment out of."
Semmens will wave the flags in Saturday's NTFA premier division senior clash between Longford and Rocherlea.
The match starts at 2pm in Longford.
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