Magpie legends for hall of fame

FORMER Glenorchy Football Club champion Ben Atkin is one of four players to be inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame next weekend.

Known as “Bucket”, the courageous halfback had the ability to take great marks for a man of his size.

Atkin started his journey at Glenorchy at the age of 14 after being recruited from Claremont and grew into one of the club’s and the state’s best players.

Twelve years since his last game with Glenorchy, Atkin is honoured to be inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame.

“I spent 11 years of my life at the club from age 14 to 25,” Atkin said. “It’s been a huge part of my life. It developed me into the person that I am.

“I owe the club a huge thank you for all the development and time they put into me.”

A three-time best and fairest winner at Glenorchy from 19982000, Atkin’s career at the Pies peaked in a superb 1999 campaign, where he won the William Leitch Medal and helped the club to a premiership.

“I only played in one premiership, which was in ‘99 and that’s the standout for me,” he said.

“The other thing is the mateship and friendships that I’ve made over my time here.

“When you see people in the street now you have that close bond with them because of the hard work you put in for so long.”

A stellar career with the Magpies coincided with Atkin’s time with the Tasmanian Devils, where he was a member of its midfield in the early 2000s and won the Alastair Lynch Medal for being the Devils’ best and fairest in 2002.

Atkin will be inducted with Eric Huxtable, Harold Loring and Jim Manson next Saturday night, bringing to 51 the total of inductees from Glenorchy’s 99 years in the game.