Or maybe he's a contract player, playing for his next contract at a Melbourne team? I suspect he never wanted to be in Brisbane from the start.

Yeah, he's lifted quite a bit in Brisbane, but the gap between his best and worst is pretty big. And he's always injured. No thanks. At 29 I'd rather continue to develop Spencer. Gawn is set now.

I agree with your point of him being too old for us to consider now, but he clearly should have been retained in 2012. With all due respect, the rest of what you say is made up. He's been very consistent for the last 2 seasons, close to AA, averaging about 20 disp and 6 marks from 28 games.

Retaining Martin, as I understand it, was not an option in 2012.

I'm not that fussed anyway. Gawn is a much better player, and it would be the second time Martin has chucked the toys out of the cot and walked from a club.

Stef would be a good fit with the bulldogs, let him go there.

Good luck to him.

I heard there was a full-on confrontation with Todd Viney and there is bad blood.

I think Stef is a little bit precious from all accounts.

Ridiculous to say it was a 'mistake' letting Steph go in the first place. For one, was that even the case? Or did he ask to leave?

Secondly, he had never shown any sort of consistency in form in any of the positions he was trialled in whilst he was on our list. He was very much in the same boat Fitzy is in at the moment and it was only once he moved clubs that he became Brisbane's number one ruck choice. It was clear he needed the move to kick into gear and I'm sure he realised he had to work a lot harder than he was etc etc.

We've got Max, who providing he doesn't have any major injuries from here on out could become anything. I honestly believe that.

What we need in support of Max is a relief ruckman/forward and that's something that Steph isn't.

I have hopes that Max King could become that player, but over the off-season it'd be nice to snag someone to fill that role.

Kreuzer would be ideal but I'm not sure whether that's at all possible.

Meh, we just signed up Max who will be our no1 ruck, don't need another no 1 ruck.

Ridiculous to say it was a 'mistake' letting Steph go in the first place. For one, was that even the case? Or did he ask to leave?

Secondly, he had never shown any sort of consistency in form in any of the positions he was trialled in whilst he was on our list. He was very much in the same boat Fitzy is in at the moment and it was only once he moved clubs that he became Brisbane's number one ruck choice. It was clear he needed the move to kick into gear and I'm sure he realised he had to work a lot harder than he was etc etc.

We've got Max, who providing he doesn't have any major injuries from here on out could become anything. I honestly believe that.

What we need in support of Max is a relief ruckman/forward and that's something that Steph isn't.

I have hopes that Max King could become that player, but over the off-season it'd be nice to snag someone to fill that role.

Kreuzer would be ideal but I'm not sure whether that's at all possible.

Agree with most of what you say 'steve', but even at Brisbane it was only after injury to Luey and another who escapes me at the moment that he became the number one ruck. To his credit he grabbed the opportunity.

We do need a forward/ruck, I think Kreuzer is another that thrives on holding down the first ruck role. It's a hard one to fill...like you I'm hoping King comes through.

Average footballer that personifies the Melbourne of 2008-2013: 1 great game in every 10, and always injured.

IMO we're better placed with Gawn and Spencer.

Extroadinarily ignorant post in all respects. When Jamar was injured and we played him in the 1st ruck he was outstanding for 12 games from memory. Problem was that we tried to play him as a fwd , as a back, as a resting ruckman and he wasn't good.

Brisbane tried the same thing until Leuenberger went down and then played Stef in the 1st ruck. Has been outstanding and with Todd Goldstein the 2 best rucks in the comp.

Brisbane is in a very sorry state.

Nice pun

it seems he eoesnt work well in combination - not as prominent since Louey came back from injury. Hopeless as a tall forward.

Nice pun

Thank you. It's the same reason that Gold Coast are struggling.

Spoke to a guy from work whose old man is close friends with Steph Martin and does a lot for the club. The personal reason to come back to VIC is because he doesn't like playing for Brisbane plain and simple. There's about 4 clubs interested in his services with the Doggies being the front runners. Mentioned to him about coming back to the Red & Blue but unfortunately Steph doesn't see it happening.

Would that be due to a lack of interest on SM's behalf or the clubs?

I sat with a current MFC listed player at the Brisbane game and asked directly, how we let Martin go.

His response was, "can play a bit but a really ordinary unit". Direct quote.

I sat with a current MFC listed player at the Brisbane game and asked directly, how we let Martin go.

His response was, "can play a bit but a really ordinary unit". Direct quote.

Might be so, but there's much more to the story, some of it highly unpleasant.

It is "rumoured" (on AFL.com) that Stefan wants to return to Victoria... should we be looking at him as a good second ruck option and if we were to do so, would he be interested in returning to the club under Roos?

(edited to add link) http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-14/sliding-doors-round-20

Discuss...

Just don't see it happening I think he is now 29 this will probably be his last contract.

My Bro is a Lions member he says the message is he wants a salary increase and more importantly wants to win games.

The info is that the only hope the Lions have of keeping him is if Leuenberger goes.

The FD at Lions want him to stay because Leuenberger seldom plays more than a dozen games a year, is constantly injured.

I would think the Dogs are a big chance.

They will win more than they lose and I doubt he would return to the MFC if they wanted him which seems doubtful.

Since leaving us all his good games have been as first Ruck I just don't see a spot for him.

Admittedly, I haven't watched a great deal of the Lions this year but I thought he's in the same boat as Gawn in that he doesn't make a big impact unless he's the main man in ruck.

With Maxy just signing on I highly doubt we would wind back the clock and look at Stef.

He would command a pretty penny to I would think and we need to spend that $$ on more quality mids and topping up Jesse when he wants it.

Ideally a quality key forward who can 2nd ruck would be best.

Clark was a big loss - He hogan and Gawn would have been sick.

Also should have 5 years left in him.

jumbo, your thoughts?

So Brisbane are now set to lose both Burger AND Stef? Yikes. There are some real problems up north.

I rate Stef and enjoyed seeing him tear it up last season, but it's more than evident he can only play first ruck. Anything else that includes him spending time in the forward line and his impact is significantly reduced.

Gawn is our man. Unless Stef wants to be second in line, which I doubt, I'm not sure we'd go down this path. He'll find a home though. Essendon could do much worse.

Gawn and Stef both need first ruck.

Won't work.

Gawn and Stef both need first ruck.

Won't work.

Spot on rpfc

The game against us Martin was the second ruck/ forward that day and IMO was ordinary at best.

I watched him closely that day.

My Bro ( Lions Member ) says all his good games are when Leuenberger was not playing.

Appears his wiki page has been hacked...see 'current club'

Won't go to the Cats, that's for sure.

Appears his wiki page has been hacked...see 'current club'

good pickup

Appears his wiki page has been hacked...see 'current club'

ie 2016- Essendon

If true he would be getting buckets of $$ or he is very desperate to leave the Lions.

Going from the 'frying pan to the fire'!

EFC won't be climbing the ladder in a hurry!!