Originally from the West Broken Hill club, Owens was a prolific left footed full-forward who excelled despite playing much of his career in the league’s weakest team.
He favored the screw punt when he lined up for goals and it was effective as he topped Glenelg’s goalkicking every year from 1924 to 1932, as well as for a tenth time in 1934.
Towards the end of his career, Glenelg began to improve and in 1934 he captained the club to their inaugural SANFL premiership.
At the age of 32, however, Owens showed he was on the decline so quickly in 1935 that he announced his retirement after just three games and eight goals.
In 2002 Owens was in the first group of players inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.