Di Phyland might have just notched another incredible milestone in a career spanning more than 15 years  but her enthusiasm is a strong as ever.

Earlier this month, Phyland umpired her 300^th Victorian Women’s Football League match, cementing her place as a legend of the competition.

And she didn’t exactly limp to the line.

After more than 1,100 games as a boundary, field and goal umpire across multiple competitions, Phyland approached the milestone in the best shape of her life.

Only weeks ago she ran her fastest ever 2km time-trial, illustrating her commitment to the pursuit of umpiring and the joy she still gets from being involved.

“I’m probably fitter now than I was when I first started and while it’s not a world beating time it still makes me feel pretty damn good,” Phyland said.

“For me it’s all about fun. I guess I’ll stop when the fun factor goes but right now I’m having too much fun to give it away.”

Phyland said she was also motivated by the opportunity to help young umpires develop and encourage more girls to stay involved.

“I think it’s a great sport to be involved in and the more young girls we can get coming through the better,”

“If my role is to be seen as being a developer I say bring it on.”

Phyland’s obvious passion has been a hallmark of her umpiring career, one that began while she was still playing in the VWFL.

“I got into umpiring while I was playing footy and working shift work,” she said.

“In 1991 my coach said to me ‘the boys need a boundary umpire on Saturday, you’re it’!

“I figured I’d do it once then somebody else would have a go but I enjoyed it so much that I ended up umpiring the reserves on Saturdays and the Under 11’s and 13’s on Sundays before my game.”

After playing her 50^th game, Phyland retired and decided she wanted to instead turn her hand full-time to umpiring and in particular officiate games in the VWFL.

For the past 20 years, Phyland has remained committed to her goal, umpiring many junior and men’s matches, along with keeping a strong presence in the VWFL.

“As a player we didn’t have any female umpires and there was a perception that many of the men who umpired us weren’t as serious about women’s football,” Phyland said.

“The best way to address that was to join them when I retired and the positive response from players have kept me coming back.”

Over the journey, the also passionate teacher has tried her hand at all disciplines, including a stint in goals that saw her try-out for the VFL squad on two occasions.

While she was ultimately unable to win a spot, there isn’t much that Phyland hasn’t accomplished in her time in the game.

An amazing string of grand finals, a chance to umpire on the MCG, a stint as director of umpiring and many coaching and mentoring roles as seen her become of the most respected officials in community football.

And while she will be proud to take the field this weekend for her 300^th VWFL game, Phyland maintains that it is the simple things that keep her involved.

“Seeing the development of female football from four teams in the early 90s to what it is today, and the development of Youth Girls and Auskick and AFL sanctioned games, it’s pretty remarkable,” she said.

“I’m still having fun and meeting great people… and enjoying the rise of the girls umpiring in the VWFL.”