VERSATILE big man Stef Martin expects to spend more time up forward this season, and playing back-up ruckman to Mark Jamar.
Martin, who impressed and took his game to another level in the absence of the injured Jamar last year, has also played down back in his 50-game career.
But the 25-year-old said he understood his predominant role would be to switch between the forward line and ruck in 2012.
“As far as I understand it at this stage - I’ll play more time in the forward line than in the ruck,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“At this stage, it looks as though I’m going to be playing as a forward for the majority of the game. And then I’ll be playing ruck for a smaller percentage of the game.
“So that’s what I’ve been training as and that could be a good to give me some stability. But I must say, I didn’t mind it either, being swung around, so if I’m needed in defence, I’m happy to do that too.”
After finishing eighth in last year’s Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy, Martin said he had more confidence and belief heading into 2012. He added that it took “two or three years” to feel settled at the highest level.
“Last year, I was very nervous. Leading into the season, because I was unsure about where I was at with footy, and before games I was very nervous, I now feel a bit more relaxed about it and a bit more confident,” he said.
“I’m now ready to springboard into a good year this year.
“To know that you’ve done it 50 times before … you can take what you’ve learned and move forward in the next game that I play.”
After transforming his body shape significantly last season, Martin has trimmed up even more this year.
“I’m slightly lighter - only one or two kilos lighter. The body fat has gone down too,” he said.
“The whole playing list has generally dropped a little bit of weight. That’s been due to a little bit of change of diet and a larger volume of running.
“The goal is to maintain our strength or increase it. I don’t feel any less strong than I did last year, but I’m a bit lighter, so hopefully that works out.”
Martin said his endurance had been the biggest area of improvement over the pre-season.
“The most notable thing is the change in running that we’ve been doing,” he said.
“My endurance running has become a lot stronger than it has ever been before. In previous years, I was ok at speed, but for endurance I was towards the bottom of the whole playing list.
“I’m now towards the middle part of the list, so that’s a lot better than I was. Other than that, I’ve been learning the game plan with the new coach.”
Martin, who impressed and took his game to another level in the absence of the injured Jamar last year, has also played down back in his 50-game career.
But the 25-year-old said he understood his predominant role would be to switch between the forward line and ruck in 2012.
“As far as I understand it at this stage - I’ll play more time in the forward line than in the ruck,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“At this stage, it looks as though I’m going to be playing as a forward for the majority of the game. And then I’ll be playing ruck for a smaller percentage of the game.
“So that’s what I’ve been training as and that could be a good to give me some stability. But I must say, I didn’t mind it either, being swung around, so if I’m needed in defence, I’m happy to do that too.”
After finishing eighth in last year’s Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy, Martin said he had more confidence and belief heading into 2012. He added that it took “two or three years” to feel settled at the highest level.
“Last year, I was very nervous. Leading into the season, because I was unsure about where I was at with footy, and before games I was very nervous, I now feel a bit more relaxed about it and a bit more confident,” he said.
“I’m now ready to springboard into a good year this year.
“To know that you’ve done it 50 times before … you can take what you’ve learned and move forward in the next game that I play.”
After transforming his body shape significantly last season, Martin has trimmed up even more this year.
“I’m slightly lighter - only one or two kilos lighter. The body fat has gone down too,” he said.
“The whole playing list has generally dropped a little bit of weight. That’s been due to a little bit of change of diet and a larger volume of running.
“The goal is to maintain our strength or increase it. I don’t feel any less strong than I did last year, but I’m a bit lighter, so hopefully that works out.”
Martin said his endurance had been the biggest area of improvement over the pre-season.
“The most notable thing is the change in running that we’ve been doing,” he said.
“My endurance running has become a lot stronger than it has ever been before. In previous years, I was ok at speed, but for endurance I was towards the bottom of the whole playing list.
“I’m now towards the middle part of the list, so that’s a lot better than I was. Other than that, I’ve been learning the game plan with the new coach.”
