Stef Martin (No.34)
 
Career
Debut: 2008
Career matches: 50
Career goals: 16
 
2011
Matches: 21
Goals: 10
Kicks: 225
Marks: 96
Handballs: 139
Disposals: 364
Tackles: 42

Todd Viney’s season assessment
Stef was one of the real finds for us this year. He developed really nicely as a second ruckman, when Mark Jamar went down with injury. He stood up and was fantastic for us. Overall, he developed enormously this year. But he’s still got a lot of improvement and needs to keep working on his kicking, contested marking and work in the forward line. If he can keep improving like he did this year, he will be really exciting.

Round-by-round assessment
Comments made by 2011 Melbourne coaching staff members Mark Williams, Brad Gotch and Kelly O’Donnell

AFL: Round 1 v Sydney Swans
Stef was very good. He played multiple roles and had an impact in each area. When he played in the ruck, he really competed hard. Stef also made an impact when he went down back. Mark Williams

AFL: Round 2 v Hawthorn
Stef was good. He was solid without being outstanding, but he started to show some good signs for us, particularly his attacking side. Mark Williams
 
AFL: Round 3 v Brisbane Lions
Stef was good again and kept building his game. He continued to show good form and was involved in some more fantastic passages, whether it was down back or in the ruck. He really started to hit his straps. Mark Williams

AFL: Round 4 v Gold Coast Suns
Stef was involved in a lot of play, which was pleasing. But he didn’t have a big influence on the game. Still, his ruck work was pretty good. He spent a bit of time down back and gave the defenders a chop out. He continued to play his role and we were very happy with that. Mark Williams

AFL: Round 5 - Bye

AFL: Round 6 v West Coast Eagles
Stef played numerous roles - down back, up forward and in the ruck. He needed to impose himself on the game, so the team gained more benefits from his work. Mark Williams
 
VFL: Round 6 v Northern Bullants
Stef copped a knee to the ribs, which slowed him up a bit. He couldn’t fulfill his full ability, but he was gutsy and played the game out. Brad Gotch

AFL: Round 8 v North Melbourne
Stef’s first quarter was outstanding. His ruck work, aggression and follow-up work was excellent. His involvement was consistent. He had a solid game and continued to take steps forward, which was pleasing. Mark Williams

AFL: Round 9 v St Kilda
Stef showed that he could be an influential ruckman and impact the game around the ground. He needed to show confidence in himself, spread hard away from stoppage and go for his marks. Mark Williams

AFL: Round 10 v Carlton 
Steffy really contested hard in the ruck. He won the tap outs with a career-best 40 to Shaun Hampson’s 34. His spread was good, but we needed to use Stef more around the ground. Mark Williams

AFL: Round 11 v Essendon  
Steffy probably played his best game for Melbourne. He took on three giants and beat them all. Stef had 23 hit outs and 25 disposals and was a telling influence. He had eight scoring involvements and I thought his ability to impact the game was important. Mark Williams
 
AFL: Round 12 v Collingwood
Stef battled hard in the ruck. He gave us first use with some good taps. He needed to work hard around the ground, so it gave our team a transition option through the midfield. Mark Williams

AFL: Round 13 v Fremantle
Steffy again stood up under pressure. His three goals were a great result for him, particularly because they came from contested marks in our forward line. He continued to take the game on and improved each week because of this. Mark Williams
 
AFL: Round 14 v Richmond
Steffy continued to impose himself on the game. His spread through the midfield was fantastic. He continued to finish his work with goals, which was very pleasing. His ruck work was again very good and his agility really tested the Tiger talls. Mark Williams
 
AFL: Round 15 v Western Bulldogs  
Stef was competitive in the ruck without having a lot of impact. He continued to involve himself around the ground, which was pleasing. But he didn’t use the ball as effectively as he had in the past few games. Defensively, Stef was solid. Mark Williams
 
AFL: Round 16 - Bye    

AFL: Round 17 v Port Adelaide 
Stef contested very well in the ruck and gave us first use of the ball. His attack on the ball and his marking around the ground were fantastic. His last quarter goal was really important, which put the game beyond Port Adelaide’s reach. Mark Williams
 
AFL: Round 18 v Hawthorn 
Stef was one of our better players and competed very well in the ruck. His defensive game was good - he had 21 disposals and took the game on aggressively, when in possession of the ball. Stef continued to grow in confidence with every game. Mark Williams

AFL: Round 19 v Geelong Cats
Stef was outmuscled in the ruck and had no impact around the ground. Mark Williams
 
AFL: Round 20 v Carlton
Stef was beaten convincingly. He didn’t spread hard, and wasn’t involved in enough play. He missed a shot early, which would’ve helped his confidence. We needed Stef to dig deep and fight back hard. Mark Williams

AFL: Round 21 v West Coast Eagles
Steffy really competed hard in the ruck, at times jumping over Nic Naitanui. His spread and second efforts at stoppage were good. He also played down back for long periods - he took on the resting rucks. He impacted on occasions and took some strong defensive marks, but was caught out of position at other times. Mark Williams

AFL: Round 22 v Richmond  
Steffy competed well in the ruck. He had some good hit outs, but wasn’t involved in general play as much as we would’ve liked. Stef needed to be more physical and take the opposition on, when in possession of the ball. Mark Williams

AFL: Round 23 v Gold Coast Suns
Stef was solid without being outstanding. He contested really well in the ruck, and went forward and had an impact. Stef presented well on leads and his work-rate up the ground was good. He also won some good one-on-ones. Mark Williams
 
AFL: Round 24 v Port Adelaide
Steffy was really good with his competitiveness. He contested hard in the air. He was solid in the ruck and lively up forward. He took some good contested marks and he kicked two goals. It was another step forward in a year where he has made real progress. Mark Williams