DOB: 19 December 1916
Died: 1 March 1942
Debut: Round 3, 1940 against Footscray at MCG
Last Game: Round 6, 1940 against Hawthorn at Glenferrie Oval
From: Melbourne Grammar/Old Melburnians
Number: 16 (1940)
Games: 4
Goals: 1
Career Statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 75.00 |
Recruited after six seasons in the amateur competition, the ruckman joined Melbourne after winning the 1939 A Grade Best and Fairest award. His father Ernest Atkins had played 23 games for University in 1913 and 1914. Atkins played at full back on debut, called up as a late replacement when Bill Baxter injured his back.
After four games Atkins left football to enlist with the Navy in World War II. He served in the Mediterranean early in the conflict, but was recalled to Australia when Japan entered the war. Atkins was killed along with 682 other servicemen on the HMAS Perth when the boat was struck by a Japanese torpedo near Java.
| Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
| 1940 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Lists
Family at other clubs
Players who served during war
Notes
Some sources say he was called in as a last minute replacement for Shane McGrath, who narrowly missed a train to the MCG. McGrath didn't debut until two weeks later.
Media
Argus - 01/04/1940
Herald - 10/05/1940
Sporting Globe - 11/05/1940
Age - 15/05/1940
The Australasian - 24/06/1944
Links
Boyles Football Photos
Demonwiki image gallery
MCC Roll of Honour
Wikipedia profile