Born on 9th March 1957 Tony Martyn came from Waterloo south of Geeveston. He played seniors for Kermandie while still at school alongside the likes of Wayne Coulson and Scott McKibben.
Recruited by Sandy Bay at 16 years, he played two years of underage football captaining the team in 1974 and 75. Made his senior debut in 1976 in jumper 24 for the Seagulls capping off the year with a premiership and the TFL
award for best first year senior player; the EC Billett Shield.
He played in premiership teams in the Sandy Bay side under Paul Sproule in three consecutive years from 1976 to 1978.
He was in the 1986 Sandy Bay losing grand finalists under Andy Bennett.
He was recruited into the VFL for Melbourne in 1979 through to partway through the 1981 season for a total of 32 games and 5 goals.
He then moved to South Australia and played 15 games for Port Adelaide in the SANFL through 1981. During his time with the Magpies he played in the premiership team on the wing alongside four time Magarey medallist Russell Ebert who also won the Jack Oatey medal for
best on ground in the grand final. Martyn kicked one goal and was named among the best players.
After returning to Tasmania he played again for Sandy Bay winning the William Leitch medal in 1982 and 1983.
He represented Tasmanian 10 times and also represented the TFL numerous times. He also added the Lefroy medal for best player in interstate games to his trophy cabinet in 1982 when he was joint winner with
Graham Hunnibell
from New Norfolk in games against Queensland, ACT and New South Wales.
He finished playing for Sandy Bay after the 1986 season, finishing on a total of 129 senior games. He won the club best and fairest in 1978, 1982 and 1983.
He returned to coach Kermandie in 1987 and 1988 winning the club best and fairest award in 1987 and took the Robins to the grand final in 1988 which they lost to Franklin.
He also gained selection in the Huon combined side of 1987 under the coaching of Bruce Coles.
Tony Martyn played with Lauderdale in the Southern Amateur Association 1989-1991 and then made a comeback in 1997 for the season. He won the club best and fairest awards in 1990 and 1991. He played on the wing in the 1991
premiership side which beat Claremont.
He retired finally from football at the end of 1997.
Since the inception of the SFL,
regional league sides Kermandie and Lauderdale play for the Tony Martyn Shield each year. He was named on the wing in the Sandy Bay Team of the Century.
He is a landscape gardener and is involved with helping his daughter who is a keen rower.
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Tony Martyn - A Tasmanian Football Legend
