After a standout season in 1997 for Sturt, Atkinson was joint winner of the Magarey Medal, awarded for the best and fairest player in the SANFL competition.
In an interesting turn on events he was selected in the 1998 AFL Draft by Adelaide after trading Chad Rintoul to West Coast for pick 80.
At age 26, and out of AFL for several years, his SANFL form with the Sturt Football Club was enough to get him re-drafted.
In his 124th and last game for the club they won the 2002 SANFL Grand Final over Central District.
[4] At age 30 Atkinson captain-coached Portland to a Western Border Football League premiership in 2003.