SIX knee operations are enough to turn anyone off a sport, but not Doreen’s Michael Mclean.

The 29-year-old was a keen hockey player before injuries put an end to his senior career.

“I technically couldn’t play any more, I have had six knee operations so I physically wasn’t able to play,” he said.

But instead of giving the game away he traded the stick for the whistle and hasn’t looked back since.

Last month he earned his Hockey Australia umpiring badge - the biggest achievement of his umpiring career to date.

“I go to a level up next year, so I can do national hockey next year,” he said.

“All in all, it has taken me about five years of nationals to get my Australia badge.

“I got it through umpiring Australian national juniors. I went to 15s, under 18s and under 21s over a few years.

“This was the best way to stay in the game. It is good to go out there and still be a part of the game when you can’t play.”

The badge qualifies Mr Mclean to umpire international matches, but he is a fair way off that, he said.

“Technically, I could. But I wouldn’t do that until after I had a few AHL (Australian Hockey Leagues) games.”

Mr Mclean, who will umpire State League One finals this month, made an inauspicious start to his umpiring career as a troublemaking teenager more than a decade ago.

“I think I was about 15, it might have been a bit earlier, but I got sent off twice in one match… and as punishment I had to go out and umpire.”

And the rest is history.