WATCHING Melbourne's Stefan Martin have such an influence against Fremantle was something of a revelation.

Here was a player proving - once again - that opportunity is sometimes the only gap between relative anonymity and kudos.

With the Demons' All Australian ruckman Mark Jamar missing through injury, Martin was invited to step into the No. 1 rucking position.

He was nervous, slightly uncertain of what lay ahead as he prepared to be the main man for the first time against North Melbourne in round eight.

He knew he would give it a crack but it would be a stretch to describe his mindset as confident.

Martin had not gone up against the opposition's first ruck very often, relieving as one of the second stringers clubs throw in the middle to give their first ruckman some rest.

The Demons' initial tactics indicated uncertainty, too, as they used the third-man up ploy at rucking contests to great effect.

However, once those initial nerves disappeared, Martin found himself revelling.

"Once I started playing, it was really enjoyable because you get exposed to the ball and the action more and it gives you a chance to get involved in the game," he said.

In rounds eight and nine, he was in the best players. In round 11 against Essendon, he had a breakout game, taking on and defeating the Bombers' three talls. Not only was he mobile, but he played with a certain joie de vivre, running hard and intelligently into spots where his presence became dangerous for the opposition.

Last week against Fremantle, he showed he was no flash in the pan; he kicked three goals playing both in the ruck and as a mobile tall forward. In fact, he suddenly seemed the ruckman/forward every club is searching for.

"I've just been getting more confident. That's been the biggest thing. I'm wanting to have the ball and use it," he said.
 
Martin had worked hard during pre-season to get his body in shape and now he was using that fitness base to its full extent. He has always been a student of the game, diligent about trying to get better.
 
"The exposure (to the ruck) has been great, because I was playing probably 30 per cent ruck time while Jamar was playing," Martin said.
 
Melbourne's apparent setback (missing Jamar) had suddenly become a real bonus, for the team and for Martin.

"Having all that extra time (in the ruck), I feel like I have learned more in the last month or six weeks than I had in the previous three years," Martin said.

"You can't really replicate game-day at training as such, so in a way I've been fortunate to get more time."

He now understands better where to run to and how to stay in the game. His confidence has grown and so has his impact.

Giving opportunities to young talls has become an intriguing challenge for clubs since the sub rule was introduced.

With room for only one specialist ruckman, the position has become AFL's equivalent of the wicketkeeper. It's why some clubs cite developing second ruckmen without playing them at senior level as one of their concerns with the rule, fearful that athletic talls will not find the game as attractive an option if they have to spend too long in a secondary competition.

Watching the performances of North Melbourne's Todd Goldstein (in the absence of Hamish McIntosh), Collingwood's Cameron Wood (Darren Jolly), Fremantle's Jonathon Griffin (Aaron Sandilands) and the Sydney Swans' Mark Seaby (Shane Mumford) has shown that many capable ruckmen can perform well, given the opportunity.
 
Rotating players becomes a possibility, but it is a luxury only winning teams can indulge in.

For Martin, though, the future seems rosy. Jamar has been a great teacher while on the sidelines and will appreciate the extra support Martin now has the confidence to provide, as he has always looked mobile enough to excel in many parts of the ground.

Melbourne has benefited too, with coach Dean Bailey speculating about whether he might be able to play three talls, including young beanpole Max Gawn (another beneficiary of Jamar's injury).

Martin can play. Not only do we know it, but he believes it, too. An exciting career beckons. "Most of it comes back to confidence and believing in myself more," he said.