Stevo on channel 7 said we are the favourites to sign Martin at this stage as we are offering more $$$
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Stevo on channel 7 said we are the favourites to sign Martin at this stage as we are offering more $$$
I hope their is more to his thinking than just the money.
I hope we get him.
Martin averages around 18 possessions a game, scores less than a goal per game but has a very high tackle ratio of around 5 and averages 4 marks per game. It's a bit of a mixed bag but some impressive attributes
Are these the sort of numbers that will command a 600K per season contract over a 4 or 5 year deal with us?
Agreed.
For me the pressure is a vital building block. Then it becomes a matter of the quality of his disposal and decision-making more generally. While this team might be different to 2016, both sides win when they swarm the opposition with so much pressure that they start missing the simplest of disposals because they're *%$ing themselves. So it sounds like Martin could fit right in.
If we pay that amount and get him, then we're investing in someone who has talent and work-rate, but who's been in a shit system. I like those odds. I'm also pretty happy with the likes of Crozier and Durea (and even Trengove though he can drive me crazy), so happy to back us in.
Plus he'll hopefully be someone that we can build a broader culture around, who can (among many other things), help mentor the other Indigenous players that we'll be recruiting.
Not in love with Martins stats, but also dont buy into the "he'll be better in a good team" narrative, he has hallmarks of being an A grade downhill skier. Having said that - I have extreme trust in our recruiting and list management team and am ok with a classy player as outside polish when we're going well.
I wonder what the emotional toll of that is? I freely admit have no idea in advance. But it's indigenous round, so let's roll out Jack. There's media about our indigenous jumper, so lets roll out Jack. If a crowd member engages in racism, again, roll out Jack. Taking over from JT on the reconciliation council, put in Jack. Photo ops with our NGA kids, roll out Jack.
For our vision for a more diverse club, for more indigenous talent and to become a club of choice, we are going to need a very strong leader comfortable as a player and comfortable to be the pioneer and take on a lot with the help of our off field set up. Carlton & Essendon don't have to factor in a higher wage for this because they're further down the road than us. So the more I think about it we would need to pay him more because the off field burden is less, despite the playing success being higher.
Whenever I've heard him talk, he seems to have strong character and overall good citizen. As Raw Toast points out, he seems to be the sort of person that would be a great mentor for JUH & other indigenous NGAs and draftees. The component above can't be understated...
But he's also a very good footballer whose been stuck in football purgatory. He can win his own footy and loves to tackle. That's a bonus dimension of him. What I think we want is a hard runner, smooth moving, wing/high forward that can have the ball extracted by our bulls around the contest out to and continue to improve our I50's and generate a shot or two a game. With his pace and tackling proficiency he can work further into the forward line, or play a variety of other roles. He has speed and talent.
There's no guarantees in footy. His career has somewhat stalled playing at a club where none of his leaders wanted to be their either. In weak teams that got flogged and a club that is mismanaged for salary cap management to player development. So will he come in instantly and turn it around, or a year. Who knows for certain. But as far as a wager goes, I'd put my money on that we will and it will be quick. With a defined role and the best midfield that's only going to get better serving him the footy at will, we can play him to his strengthes and not to whatever will stop a 50-100 points loss. 97 games, 24 year old, he's coming into his prime footy years with our list who is moving into its prime years. He's not the messiah, but at a reasonable trade price and the $550-$600,000 rumoured figure, he could be a really important part of continuing to inject even more high talent players into a 2020 best 22 that addresses a specific area we can immediately improve.
What was the question? Is he worth it? Yes.