Owen Martin

The North Adelaide Football Club acknowledges the passing of Owen Martin on 21 June, aged 91.  Owen was one of our Club's champions, and perhaps one of the most unheralded heroes in our rich history.  Prior to his passing, we believe he was our oldest living past player.

He began his league career with North Adelaide in 1934, playing at the opposite end of the ground to the great Ken Farmer.  Owen's career with North was interrupted by the war, but he played 130 games for North (and kicked 30 goals) in two stints from 1934 to 1941 and 1945 to 1946.  In between, he played 42 out of a possible 43 games for Norwood-North in the combined competition that saw the 8 league teams reduce to 4 combined teams.  He won many awards over his 13 year career, playing primarily at full back.  His awards and honours included :

Owen also represented the State on 4 occasions, 3 while with North Adelaide and the fourth in 1944 when SA played against a Victorian team made up of VFL players serving in the RAAF who were on leave.  Owen was Vice Captain of that State team.

During the war years, Martin shared the captaining duties of the Norwood-North team with Norwood great Albert (Pongo) Sawley, who coincidentally had tied for third in the 1937 count with Martin whilst playing for Norwood.

But his crowning glory must have been the 1944 premiership for Norwood-North.  He was Captain of that team and was hailed as best afield with a sterling game in defence, keeping Port-Torrens full forward Shaw to just 1 goal.

Owen's son Maurice (better known as Maurie) later played for North and kicked 6 goals in his debut.

The North Adelaide Football Club acknowledges Owen's fine contribution to the Club and salutes one of its premiership heroes.  Our condolences are extended to his family and many friends.