George Owens (footballer)

George Owens
Personal information
Full name Albert George Percy Owens
Nickname(s) Staunch
Date of birth (1900-08-20)20 August 1900
Place of birth Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Date of death 7 October 1986(1986-10-07) (aged 86)
Place of death Mount Lawley, Western Australia
Original team(s) East Perth juniors
Height 181 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Ruck, centre half-forward
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1917–1932 East Perth 195 (226)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
1923–1929 Western Australia 17 (20)
Umpiring career
Years League Role Games
1935–1941 WANFL Field umpire 135
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1932.
Career highlights
  • East Perth premiership side 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1925, 1927
  • Sandover Medal 1925
  • WANFL grand final umpire 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Albert George Percy "Staunch" Owens (20 August 1900 – 7 October 1986) was an Australian rules footballer who played for East Perth in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). He was a seven-time WAFL premiership player with East Perth and was on the losing side of a grand final three times. After turning to umpiring he was involved in a further five grand finals, a total of 15 as a player and umpire.

Playing career

Born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia,[1] Owens moved to Perth as a child, and played in a combined Perth schools team that toured the Goldfields in 1911. He made his debut for the East Perth team in the Ex-Scholars' league at the age of 14, and two years later made his debut for East Perth's senior team in the WAFL.[2] Owens was with East Perth during a golden period for the club and played in seven premiership team, including five in a row from 1919 to 1923. He was generally a ruckman but could often play as a centre half-forward. In 1925 he won the Sandover Medal, receiving four votes.[3]

Owens finished his career with 195 WAFL games for East Perth.[4][5]

He was also a regular Western Australian interstate representative and appeared for his state in both the 1924 Hobart and 1927 Melbourne carnivals. In all he represented his state on 17 occasions.[4]

Umpiring career

Following his retirement he became an umpire, beginning in 1934 in the Public Schools Association (PSA). After umpiring PSA finals in his first year, he became a WANFL[6] umpire the following year. He officiated in the league grand final in his first year as a WANFL umpire. He later controlled the 1937, 1938, 1939 and 1941 grand finals. In all he officiated in 135 league games between 1935 and 1941.[2][4]

Honours

In 2004 inducted into the Western Australian Hall of Champions and the West Australian Football Hall of Fame.[1][4]

References

  1. 1 2 "WEST AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME Playing Record of all Members @ March 2012". West Australian Football Commission. March 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  2. 1 2 "STAUNCH" OWENS LOOKS BACK ON FAMOUS OCCASION – The Daily News. Published 25 June 1936. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
  3. ↑ "The Sandover Medal - George Owens Secures Coveted Honor". The Sunday Times. 20 September 1925. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "WA Hall of Champions Inductee - George Owens". Western Australian Institute of Sport. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "Every League Premiership Player in Argus Finals System Era. 1904 - 1930". West Australian Football Commission. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  6. ↑ The WAFL became known as the Western Australian National Football League in 1930
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