PLAYER: 1917-32

GAMES: 212: East Perth 195; WA 17

PREMIERSHIPS: 1919-23, 26, 27

HONOURS: Sandover Medal 1925; East Perth fairest and best six times; Umpired 135 league games including 20 finals and grand finals in 1935, 37-39, 41.

Born in Kalgoorlie in 1900, George Owens was three months shy of his 17^th birthday when he made his league debut.  Two years later he played in the first of his seven premierships for East Perth.  A “Collingwood six-footer” at 5ft 11in., he played as a ruckman for most of his career.  In 1926 a reporter from  the Melbourne Argus was glowing in his praise, describing Owens as the best footballer in Australia when he won the trophy for the best-on-ground in a match between WA and Victoria in Perth.  The trophy is among the East Perth memorabilia collection.  When he retired, Owens wanted to give something back to football and took up umpiring.