VERSATILE big man Stef Martin says he has renewed confidence in his game, following an impressive display in Melbourne’s draw against Sydney Swans at the MCG on Sunday.
Martin started strongly, winning eight disposals in the opening term, before finishing with 17. He was used down back, in the ruck and up forward, showing plenty to like about his game.
It was the talented tall’s first match for Melbourne since round six last year, and having reshaped his body with a strong pre-season, Martin looms as an important utility in 2011.
“I’m trying to find my feet. I’ve been thrown around in a few different positions and I’m getting used to that now. I’ve got a bit of freedom on the ball now and I’m just trying to work out how to best use myself in the role that I’ve been given,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“I’m trying to find a bit more of the ball than usual and I hope to have a bit more of an impact than I had in the NAB Cup and in the last few years. So hopefully I can take a bit of confidence from that.
“Sitting behind the ball as a ruckman or as a defender - I find it a little bit easier to read. It’s important wherever I am that I contribute. I don’t have to set the world on fire, but I’ve got to be able to play three roles.”
Reflecting on the draw, Martin said it was “nail-biting” to play in such a match.
“I was just hoping that the clock moves into fast forward, but it seemed a long three minutes … I wouldn’t want to go through that too many times,” he said.
“I felt pretty down in a way, because we came from behind, and to be up and able to win would’ve been great.
“The boys fought it out really hard and Sydney had it in our defensive 50 for about four minutes, so the boys down back did an amazing job not to lose the game.”
Martin said fewer rotations made it an exhausting contest.
“The intense is much higher with less rotations and in the last quarter I was out on my feet,” he said.
“I’m not absolutely spent, but the intensity is a lot higher.”
Martin started strongly, winning eight disposals in the opening term, before finishing with 17. He was used down back, in the ruck and up forward, showing plenty to like about his game.
It was the talented tall’s first match for Melbourne since round six last year, and having reshaped his body with a strong pre-season, Martin looms as an important utility in 2011.
“I’m trying to find my feet. I’ve been thrown around in a few different positions and I’m getting used to that now. I’ve got a bit of freedom on the ball now and I’m just trying to work out how to best use myself in the role that I’ve been given,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“I’m trying to find a bit more of the ball than usual and I hope to have a bit more of an impact than I had in the NAB Cup and in the last few years. So hopefully I can take a bit of confidence from that.
“Sitting behind the ball as a ruckman or as a defender - I find it a little bit easier to read. It’s important wherever I am that I contribute. I don’t have to set the world on fire, but I’ve got to be able to play three roles.”
Reflecting on the draw, Martin said it was “nail-biting” to play in such a match.
“I was just hoping that the clock moves into fast forward, but it seemed a long three minutes … I wouldn’t want to go through that too many times,” he said.
“I felt pretty down in a way, because we came from behind, and to be up and able to win would’ve been great.
“The boys fought it out really hard and Sydney had it in our defensive 50 for about four minutes, so the boys down back did an amazing job not to lose the game.”
Martin said fewer rotations made it an exhausting contest.
“The intense is much higher with less rotations and in the last quarter I was out on my feet,” he said.
“I’m not absolutely spent, but the intensity is a lot higher.”
