Football
24 June, 2024
Marklew celebrates remarkable 1000 game milestone
You'll find Frank Marklew at the hospital most work days, running back and forth as an orderly, but come Saturdays, he's the man behind the whistle, in control of a football match somewhere across the Wimmera.
Marklew is no stranger to the sport - he's played more than 200 games across numerous teams and on Saturday celebrated his 1000th match as an umpire in the senior match between Taylors Lake and Noradjuha Quantong at Dock Lake Recreation Rese
He's umpired across many leagues but is now predominately in the Horsham and Wimmera leagues.
Officiating for more than 25 years now, Marklew turned to umpiring after retiring as a player, deciding he wanted to give back to the game.
He said having the background as a player has assisted him in being an umpire.
"Having the experience playing, you know what the frustration the players are going through," Marklew said.
"It has also helped me understand the game more and the rules because the rules have changed so much over the years.
"Ex-players make great umpires."
The field umpire has many highlights when he looks back over the years.
"I've umpired nine of 10 Wimmera senior grand finals, Horsham District senior grand finals, Mallee League grand finals, and another highlight has been umpiring with my son, Leigh, in a senior grand final," he said.
"Every year over the last 25 years, I have umpired a grand final, whether it be juniors or seniors, and other highlights have been Aboriginal carnivals and interleague matches."
Marklew claimed the "Golden Whistle" award just a few years into his umpiring career. This accolade, given out by every association, is among the highest honours an umpire can win.
He's had many mentors over the years, but proving what goes around, comes around, Marklew is now a mentor himself to many aspiring and developing umpires.
"Over the last few years, I have been the coach of the umpires, coaching the development of new and up-and-coming umpires," Marklew said.
"Last year, I won an award for the State as Development Coach of the Year, which was an absolute honour.
"You don't do these things for the awards, but if they do come along, you feel proud."
But what has kept Marklew coming back season after season?
He said it's simple: the enjoyment.
And it's experiences like one just a couple of weeks ago that take the excitement to a new level.
"We took eight of our umpires to the community game at the MCG," Marklew said.
"We were lucky to walk out in front of the umpires, and one of our umpires helped us do the coin toss.
"It was an experience we will all never forget."
Over the years, Marklew has made friends with many AFL umpires, including Hayden Kennedy, a former AFL umpires coach.
Marklew said speaking of support, he wouldn't have been able to officiate as many matches as he has been if not for the support of his family.
"My wife Carolyn, my daughter Aimee, and son Leigh, without their support, I wouldn't have been able to keep on going," he said.
"Because you have games where you come home and you are a bit down or frustrated because things haven't gone well, but they have always supported me."
With three grandkids now, Marklew said retirement has been on his mind in the next couple of years, to spend more time with them, but he's trying to pass on his knowledge and skill now to future umpires.
And there's one piece of wisdom he has lived by that he will surely pass on.
"I've always maintained with players if you show them respect, that hopefully, they will show you respect in return," he said.
Marklew's parting words are of honesty: "Umpires are only human," he said.
"We make mistakes too; I've apologised to a player in a Wimmera senior grand final.
"But if you are honest with a player and own up to your mistakes, they do appreciate it."