BIO

Damian Obst grew up at Valley View and played his early football for Ingle Farm and North Adelaide Under 17's. He also won an A Grade premiership whilst with Broadview in the South Australian Amateur Football League. Obst then moved to Sturt, making his senior debut as a 20 year old.
 
He arrived at The Parade for the 1997 season. At the end of 1996, Norwood and Sturt had agreed to swap Obst (94 League games, Sturt) and Scott Robinson (69 League games, Norwood). Obst had played in six wooden spoons in the six years he had been with Sturt.
 
The move proved to be a great success for Obst and the Norwood Football Club. He played his 100th League game against his old club in Round 7 on the Adelaide Oval. Norwood ran out winners : 10.15 to 9.5. Obst went on to play 22 out of a possible 23 games in his first season.
 
His work ethic, blistering speed and ability to carry the ball over lines proved invaluable to the Redlegs - a club on a mission, after their dramatic exit in the 1996 Preliminary Final.
 
His excellent form was also recognized by the State selectors in 1997 and the hard-running wingman/midfielder was one of 10 Norwood players included in the interstate clash between South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
 
The Redlegs trounced Port Adelaide in the 1997 Grand Final, running out 73 point winners and Obst was high on Norwood's best player list.
 
In 1998, he was runner-up in the club's best and fairest award.
 
1999 saw Obst reach his 150 game milestone. Once again it was on the Adelaide Oval, against his former club Sturt, with the Redlegs winning: 11.9 to 10.9.
 
Named on a wing, he was a member of the Norwood side that was narrowly defeated by Port Adelaide in the 1999 Grand Final.
 
Obst had decided to take on professional running at the end of 1996 and continued with the sport over the summer, during his time at The Parade.

R Cialini Jan 2017