Geoffrey Martin

Who is Geoffrey Martin?

Geoffrey Bernard "Paddy" Martin is a former Australian rules footballer who played in Tasmania with Launceston, Sandy Bay, Ulverstone and Burnie. He is a half back flanker in Launceston's official 'Team of the Century' and in 2005 was inducted into Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame as a coaching legend. Martin also once represented Tasmania at first-class cricket.

When he debuted for Launceston in 1946, Martin made an immediate impression as he was selected that year to play with the Northern Tasmanian Football Association's representative team. The following season he crossed to Sandy Bay but returned to Launceston in 1948 where he stayed until 1954, despite getting an offer to go to Victorian Football League club Melbourne. In 1951 he appeared with the Tasmanian interstate side for the first time and also appeared for his state at the 1953 Adelaide Carnival. After 116 games at Launceston, he joined Ulverstone and participated in three premierships. He also won Ulverstone's 'best and fairest' in 1955. His next port of call was as playing-coach of Burnie and he steered them to successive premierships from 1958 to 1960. For the next six years he was the non playing coach of the North West Football Union's representative team for intrastate games. He coached Devonport in a non-playing capacity in 1970 and 1971.