| Marty Atkins | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Martin Paul Atkins | ||
| Date of birth | (1969-05-04)4 May 1969 (age 55) | ||
| Place of birth | London, England | ||
| Original team(s) | Kwinana | ||
| Position(s) | Ruckman | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1989–2003 | South Fremantle | 266 (122) | |
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| 1992–2000 | Western Australia | 5 (2) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of2003 WAFL season. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Source:AustralianFootball.com | |||
Martin Paul "Marty" Atkins (born 4 May 1969) is a formerAustralian rules footballer who played forSouth Fremantle in theWest Australian Football League (WAFL).[a] Atkins holds the record for the most WAFL matches played for South Fremantle.
Atkins was born inLondon, England and arrived in Australia as a teenager. He attended Kwinana Senior High School.[2][3]
Atkins began playing for Kwinana at under-16 level. Making an impression as a ruckman, Atkins twice tied for clubbest and fairest player award, ultimately losing both times oncountback.[2][4]
After making his WAFL league debut in 1989, he played 266 times for theBulldogs including the1997 premiership.[4][5][6][7][8]
In July 2003 Atkins overtookTom Grljusich as the South Fremantle games record holder.[9]
In 2004 Atkins joined Donnybrook in theSouth West Football League (SWFL) where he made an immediate impact, finishing the season as runner-up for the Hayward Medal, the league's award forbest and fairest player. Between 2004 and 2007, Atkins played 65 times for theDons.[4]
Atkins was appointed playing coach of Wesley-Curtin in theWestern Australian Amateur Football League (WAAFL) for the 2008 season. His form in 2009 was rewarded when he won the CJ Jamieson Medal as the best and fairest player in the WAAFL. He played until the 2010 season when he retired mid-season.[2][4][10]
Atkins played five matches forWestern Australia, making his debut in 1992 against South Australia. He was awarded theSimpson Medal as best player in the 1993 clash with South Australia.[8][11][12]
In 1988 Atkins joinedWestern Australia Police. He spent time based inWyalkatchem andTrayning, towns over 200 km from Perth. He returned to Kwinana Senior High School for a three-year posting as school police officer. After 15 years, Atkins left the police in 2003 to take up a role with South Fremantle as football manager. He later joinedPeel Thunder as football operations manager. In early 2012 he joinedPerth as CEO.[2][3][13][14][15]
In the process, the Lions, who conceded the first four goals of the match, spoilt the celebrations of Bulldogs stalwart Marty Atkins. Atkins yesterday broke Tom Grljusich's club record of 258 league games.
