Stefan Martin is fresh from a career-best year, and set to work even harder in 2016.
The 29-year-old amassed 24 disposals and 32 hit-outs against Greater Western Sydney’s Shane Mumford in the final NAB Challenge match at Metricon Stadium yesterday.
Martin is not huge by ruck standards (he is 197cm tall), but with his physique and aerobic ability, he competes well in the air and acts virtually as an extra midfielder once the ball hits the ground.
“It was my first hit-out. He’s (Mumford) had limited game time too,” Martin told LionsTV after the match.
“We were both fresh in a way. It was a good battle. I enjoyed it.”
Who do you think's on top in the ruck so far? #NABChallenge
— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) March 13, 2016
With a limited rotation cap introduced this season, Martin will get small stints of help from key forwards Josh Walker and Jonathan Freeman, but will carry the bulk of the ruck load in 2016.
“It could be (Walker) or Jono Freeman most likely (who pinch hit), but I’ll probably have to play the majority of the games in the ruck.
“It’ll probably be around 90% game time, maybe a little more.
“As long as I’m not too gassed,” he said.
Martin copped an errant elbow and played out the remainder of the match with his jaw strapped.
“It wasn’t too bad, just three stitches. It was much better than this one I got the other week.
“They saw the skull on that one so at least this was nothing compared to that,” he said.
The Lions will have a short three day break before regrouping on Thursday to prepare for their Round 1 clash against the West Coast Eagles in Perth.
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