from the age today..............

A player with a lot to learn and a history of achievement

Andrea Petrie | May 24, 2009

MOST of Stefan Martin's Melbourne teammates would have had an early night in preparation for the Demons' big clash against the Western Bulldogs last week. But not Martin, who was still sitting in front of his computer at 2am.

The 22-year-old 198-centimetre 100-kilogram defender had spent most of the previous day working frantically to finish an overdue university assignment.

"I was sitting in a chair the whole day thinking this is the worst preparation I could possibly have for a game," he said. "It was a nightmare."

The unusual preparation seemed not to matter as Martin collected 17 disposals in a solid performance; he seems to be one of those naturally gifted people who excels at everything he puts his mind to.

Take his football, for instance. Martin, who will play his 16th game today when the Demons take on Hawthorn, only started playing football three years ago. Up until then, his sporting life revolved around shooting hoops.

Martin grew up in Berwick, the second child of optometrists Peter and Rosemary Martin. As was the case for older brother Tim, 24, and younger sister Karina, 19, basketball was Martin's first love.

"All three of us played basketball and to get three kids to three different basketball stadiums all over Victoria was a massive feat," he said. "Without mum and dad, I couldn't have even played anything."

While his father was supportive of his children's chosen sport, Peter Martin was also a big Bombers fan and Martin watched them too whenever his six sessions of basketball a week allowed.

Along with his academic merit, his on-court abilities earned him a scholarship at Haileybury College and in 2003, the same year Martin completed his VCE, he made the Australian under-20s representative side.

But in 2006, while still playing basketball, Martin decided to give in to his nagging mates and join them at amateurs football club, Old Haileybury. He was 19, and had never played an Aussie rules game before. He shocked everyone when he rolled up to his first game with a slurpee and doughnut.

Martin ended his first season by winning the under-19s best and fairest after polling 23 of a possible 24 votes. He had been given best on ground in eight of the nine games he played.

Melbourne then invited him to train and although he was overlooked in that year's rookie draft, Martin was asked to play at the Demons' VFL affiliate side, Sandringham, so they could watch his development. Later that year, much to his surprise, he was Melbourne's No. 3 pick in the 2008 pre-season draft.

"I hadn't done anything major to get drafted and a lot of people probably just thought I was some tall kid who got picked up because I was tall or something. I always wanted to explain to everyone that I hadn't played for long in case they saw me kicking the ball in the early days and I wasn't that good. I wanted them to know it wasn't because I was unco-ordinated or anything, but it was because the sport was reasonably new to me."

Martin played his first senior game in round 14 last year against the Brisbane Lions with only 13 games in the back line behind him. He played 90 per cent of the game and while he put in a solid performance, Melbourne managed its second win of the season. "We beat the Lions by a point, so I was going back to my mates and saying I was the difference," he joked.

He played the remaining eight games last year when Melbourne received footy's most unwanted prize — the wooden spoon.

A year on, however, having played the first eight games this year and with only one win so far, Martin said the mood at the club was completely different. After all, they are sticking to their game plan, have been competitive and are getting closer and closer to another win, he said.

Martin is also gaining more confidence with each game. He has put particular effort into spoiling and contested marks, which has resulted in him being ranked second at the club for the most spoils and third in contested marks, important defensive traits.

While his girlfriend, Holly Bradshaw, hopes he will move into the forward line so he can kick goals and reach superstar status, Martin said he was not expecting it to happen any time soon. Besides, he is having too much fun lining up on players such as his boyhood idol, Matthew Lloyd.

He also describes Jarryd Roughead — who he might line-up on today — as a particularly smart player who "knows exactly when and where to lead".

There is another area of Martin's life in which he is also excelling. After earning a tertiary entrance score of 99.75 out of a possible 100 in his VCE, Martin began a double degree in science/law at Melbourne University in 2006 — not bad for someone who claims to have lost the motivation to study in his final year.

"I dropped off a bit like a lot of people do and while the score doesn't reflect that, I wasn't really doing enough to work to deserve that score," he said. "I couldn't believe it. My maths teacher actually called my parents during the year because she was worried I was going to fail maths, so it was a shock to do so well. I studied pretty hard for a week or two before the exams but I was a bit slack during the rest of the year."

While his football commitments have forced him to cut his studies back to part-time, Martin says this suits him because he is not quite sure if he wants to become a lawyer or do something else once his football career ends.

Until then, the pressure of assignment deadlines remains.

"The lecturers have been understanding because you're always tired after matches and training and it's not exactly when you want to be reading dry material like property law and stuff like that."

While Martin might pinch himself for achieving so much, so soon, one of the major influences on his football is certainly hardly surprised.

David Lappage, Martin's former geography teacher and under-19s football coach describes him as a "freak".

"He's one of the smartest kids I've ever taught and he never really did too much work either," Lappage said. "He's just naturally got the brains and the skill to do whatever he set his mind to without really ever realising just how good and how gifted he really is."

good read there... he's a very interesting character Stef... I remember having a quick chat to him at the membership tent round 1 when he wasn't selected... seemed quite timid and shy, which is surprising, given his natural gifts...

The only concern I have from reading that article is that everything has come so easy for him, will he be able to push himself to get the most out of his ability on the football field? If he's never had to really try at anything, why would football be any different? Lets hope the club help Stef get the most out of himself, because he could become anything.

As for his game today, I'm glad they gave him most of the match in the forward line. He's still young to the game, especially as a forward, so he's going to have to learn the role. Still needs to learn where and when to lead, but saw improvements in this already in the 2nd half...

Given his intellegence, I'd just give him a bunch of tapes of the great forwards, like Riewoldt and Buddy. Tell him to watch them, when and where they lead, and he might be able to work it out pretty from that.

And by the way, how about that goal! Should've been paid the mark, should've got the free, but got neither, so he wheels round and snaps it from the pocket. As easy as you like at almost 2 metres tall...

He's a freak, big Stef.

I love watching him play and seeing how he goes about it. The improvement is happening right before our eyes. If he only makes it to be just a good average AFL player then we're lucky given his footy background, but there's something about him that just makes me stop and think, " this guy could become something really special".

The way he moves, reads the game and somehow has so much time for a big fella, with that much pace and ability to mark the ball, he really could become ANYTHING!

Looked good forward against the Hawks, hope he is persisted with there over the next few weeks.

Loved those 2 goals.

I agree he was played out of position (forward not back) but I think if he had the confidence to demand the ball he would have been a more effective option than Robbo yesterday. In the forst half he positioned himself in a way that told me he didn't want the ball, a bit like a decoy forward to Robbo. Later in the game the ball got near him almost by chance and he created 2 goals.

The biggest problem is his kicking, but I think considering his situation and his clear natural coordination he could teach himself a regular kicking technique.

I am pretty close to getting the number 34 on a new jumper.

good read there... he's a very interesting character Stef... I remember having a quick chat to him at the membership tent round 1 when he wasn't selected... seemed quite timid and shy,

you sure it was Stef haha hes a top bloke see him a fair bit hes always happy for a chat. Glad to see him and us being really competitive.

After watching those two goals yesterday, the commentators on Fox mentioned his resemblance to Earl Spalding, I couldnt agree more.

He has a great leap and Mark, is quick and tall. So I imagine would be hard to match up on. So a good move to put him forward.

Would like to see him stay there over the coming weeks and will be watching with excitement.

He adds a bit of unpredictability which is what we need up forward.

Yeah, I read this yesterday morning, before the game. Interesting read, I know a couple of people who know him and they say he's a freak too. If it's the same Holly Bradshaw I'm thinking of, I know her too.

from the age today..............

A player with a lot to learn and a history of achievement

Andrea Petrie | May 24, 2009

MOST of Stefan Martin's Melbourne teammates would have had an early night in preparation for the Demons' big clash against the Western Bulldogs last week. But not Martin, who was still sitting in front of his computer at 2am.

The 22-year-old 198-centimetre 100-kilogram defender had spent most of the previous day working frantically to finish an overdue university assignment.

"I was sitting in a chair the whole day thinking this is the worst preparation I could possibly have for a game," he said. "It was a nightmare."

The unusual preparation seemed not to matter as Martin collected 17 disposals in a solid performance; he seems to be one of those naturally gifted people who excels at everything he puts his mind to.

Take his football, for instance. Martin, who will play his 16th game today when the Demons take on Hawthorn, only started playing football three years ago. Up until then, his sporting life revolved around shooting hoops.

Martin grew up in Berwick, the second child of optometrists Peter and Rosemary Martin. As was the case for older brother Tim, 24, and younger sister Karina, 19, basketball was Martin's first love.

"All three of us played basketball and to get three kids to three different basketball stadiums all over Victoria was a massive feat," he said. "Without mum and dad, I couldn't have even played anything."

While his father was supportive of his children's chosen sport, Peter Martin was also a big Bombers fan and Martin watched them too whenever his six sessions of basketball a week allowed.

Along with his academic merit, his on-court abilities earned him a scholarship at Haileybury College and in 2003, the same year Martin completed his VCE, he made the Australian under-20s representative side.

But in 2006, while still playing basketball, Martin decided to give in to his nagging mates and join them at amateurs football club, Old Haileybury. He was 19, and had never played an Aussie rules game before. He shocked everyone when he rolled up to his first game with a slurpee and doughnut.

Martin ended his first season by winning the under-19s best and fairest after polling 23 of a possible 24 votes. He had been given best on ground in eight of the nine games he played.

Melbourne then invited him to train and although he was overlooked in that year's rookie draft, Martin was asked to play at the Demons' VFL affiliate side, Sandringham, so they could watch his development. Later that year, much to his surprise, he was Melbourne's No. 3 pick in the 2008 pre-season draft.

"I hadn't done anything major to get drafted and a lot of people probably just thought I was some tall kid who got picked up because I was tall or something. I always wanted to explain to everyone that I hadn't played for long in case they saw me kicking the ball in the early days and I wasn't that good. I wanted them to know it wasn't because I was unco-ordinated or anything, but it was because the sport was reasonably new to me."

Martin played his first senior game in round 14 last year against the Brisbane Lions with only 13 games in the back line behind him. He played 90 per cent of the game and while he put in a solid performance, Melbourne managed its second win of the season. "We beat the Lions by a point, so I was going back to my mates and saying I was the difference," he joked.

He played the remaining eight games last year when Melbourne received footy's most unwanted prize — the wooden spoon.

A year on, however, having played the first eight games this year and with only one win so far, Martin said the mood at the club was completely different. After all, they are sticking to their game plan, have been competitive and are getting closer and closer to another win, he said.

Martin is also gaining more confidence with each game. He has put particular effort into spoiling and contested marks, which has resulted in him being ranked second at the club for the most spoils and third in contested marks, important defensive traits.

While his girlfriend, Holly Bradshaw, hopes he will move into the forward line so he can kick goals and reach superstar status, Martin said he was not expecting it to happen any time soon. Besides, he is having too much fun lining up on players such as his boyhood idol, Matthew Lloyd.

He also describes Jarryd Roughead — who he might line-up on today — as a particularly smart player who "knows exactly when and where to lead".

There is another area of Martin's life in which he is also excelling. After earning a tertiary entrance score of 99.75 out of a possible 100 in his VCE, Martin began a double degree in science/law at Melbourne University in 2006 — not bad for someone who claims to have lost the motivation to study in his final year.

"I dropped off a bit like a lot of people do and while the score doesn't reflect that, I wasn't really doing enough to work to deserve that score," he said. "I couldn't believe it. My maths teacher actually called my parents during the year because she was worried I was going to fail maths, so it was a shock to do so well. I studied pretty hard for a week or two before the exams but I was a bit slack during the rest of the year."

While his football commitments have forced him to cut his studies back to part-time, Martin says this suits him because he is not quite sure if he wants to become a lawyer or do something else once his football career ends.

Until then, the pressure of assignment deadlines remains.

"The lecturers have been understanding because you're always tired after matches and training and it's not exactly when you want to be reading dry material like property law and stuff like that."

While Martin might pinch himself for achieving so much, so soon, one of the major influences on his football is certainly hardly surprised.

David Lappage, Martin's former geography teacher and under-19s football coach describes him as a "freak".

"He's one of the smartest kids I've ever taught and he never really did too much work either," Lappage said. "He's just naturally got the brains and the skill to do whatever he set his mind to without really ever realising just how good and how gifted he really is."

Gotta love 'The HAIRDRESSER'.. could c him an Watts in a forward line together.. with the wona's and jurrah's at their feet..means we might have to get rid of Miller, which is just another positive..

Gotta love 'The HAIRDRESSER'.. could c him an Watts in a forward line together..

I agree, some time to learn how to play forward, and an increase in his confidence, he could be a great player... It seems he almost needs some of that arrogance many of the great forwards have.

I agree, some time to learn how to play forward, and an increase in his confidence, he could be a great player... It seems he almost needs some of that arrogance many of the great forwards have.

yep, i reckon the Messiah has that, quiet -'i know i can be great if i stay level-headed and bust my butt' arrogance about him, which is healthy (-it showed during that great left-foot goal from the boundary a couple weeks back in the VFL.) Stef just needs to believe in his ability a bit more like that.

good read there... he's a very interesting character Stef... I remember having a quick chat to him at the membership tent round 1 when he wasn't selected... seemed quite timid and shy, which is surprising, given his natural gifts...

The only concern I have from reading that article is that everything has come so easy for him, will he be able to push himself to get the most out of his ability on the football field? If he's never had to really try at anything, why would football be any different? Lets hope the club help Stef get the most out of himself, because he could become anything.

As for his game today, I'm glad they gave him most of the match in the forward line. He's still young to the game, especially as a forward, so he's going to have to learn the role. Still needs to learn where and when to lead, but saw improvements in this already in the 2nd half...

Given his intellegence, I'd just give him a bunch of tapes of the great forwards, like Riewoldt and Buddy. Tell him to watch them, when and where they lead, and he might be able to work it out pretty from that.

And by the way, how about that goal! Should've been paid the mark, should've got the free, but got neither, so he wheels round and snaps it from the pocket. As easy as you like at almost 2 metres tall...

I have it on pretty good authority that whilst the team went to Vegas for the end of season trip, Steph went straight to the Gym everyday in preparation for this season.

Whoever said show him tapes of the great forwrds is on the money, because he would be bloody tough to match up on.

I have it on pretty good authority that whilst the team went to Vegas for the end of season trip, Steph went straight to the Gym everyday in preparation for this season.

Whoever said show him tapes of the great forwrds is on the money, because he would be bloody tough to match up on.

Really? That is interesting... Perhaps he knows if he doesn't put the hard yards in he's not going to be the best, unlike VCE where he hardly studied and got in the top 0.25% of the state...

I have it on pretty good authority that whilst the team went to Vegas for the end of season trip, Steph went straight to the Gym everyday in preparation for this season.

Whoever said show him tapes of the great forwrds is on the money, because he would be bloody tough to match up on.

thats the sort thing you want to hear as a supporter!

cheers MJP