Career
He appeared in two Australian Championships and played for the Norwood Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). Oatey played 120 SANFL games with Norwood, from 1965 to 1972. Early in his career he was a half forward flanker but he later appeared mostly as a rover.
He partnered Ian Bidmeade in the 1967 Australian Championship doubles but they were eliminated in the opening round, by Americans Jim McManus and Jim Osborne.
They defeated eighth seeds William Coghlan and Colin Stubbs in the opening round, in five sets. Their quarterfinal encounter with the number one seeds, William Bowrey and Ray Ruffels, proved too much and they exited in straight sets.
Oatey also competed in the singles draw and again encountered William Coghlan in the first round, this time losing in four sets.
