Australian Football

Superbly balanced, poised and skilful, Colin Martyn was beyond question one of the finest centremen of the late 1920s and early 1930s. He began his senior career with his local VFA side Coburg, and was a star of the club's 12.9 (81) to 9.11 (65) Grand Final defeat of Brighton in only its second season in the competition, 1926. Martyn was equally effective the following year when the side went 'back to back' at the expense of the same opponents.

In 1928, Martyn crossed to Carlton, and was a magnificent performer in 85 VFL games for the club over five seasons. Had the Blues been bestowing best and fairest awards at the time he would very likely have been the recipient of several. As it was, he represented the Big V in the interstate arena five times, and was state captain, both home and away, against South Australia in 1931. He also captained Carlton for part of the 1931 season, and the whole of 1932.

Martyn's final game for the Blues came in the 1932 Grand Final against Richmond, a seesawing tussle which the Tigers eventually won by nine points, with Colin Martyn widely nominated as the losers' best player. Always a somewhat reserved character, he had little direct involvement with football after his retirement as a player.

Author - John Devaney