Playing in his first game of football since the round 17 Showdown last year, Martin had 15 possessions and three shots on goal in an encouraging display, but more importantly got through the contest unscathed.
Martin tore the ACL in his left knee in an innocuous incident against Port Adelaide last July and has endured the long road to recovery in his third year at the club, having being elevated off the rookie list this season.
Martin was undoubtedly happy to just be back out on the field and didn’t want to let the occasion get the better of him.
“I didn’t have too many nerves, I just went out there to have a bit of fun and get back to playing footy,” said the 21-year-old.
“ I wasn’t too worried about my performance so in that respect I didn’t have anything to be too nervous about.
“ I knew the knee was never going to be an issue so I went out there to have a bit of fun and get the feeling of playing footy back.”
Martin was understandably rusty in his return game, missing some shots on goal, but he showed glimpses of his trademark run and carry.
Relieved to have run out four quarters, he hopes to regain the confidence in his skills with each game.
“I’ve been doing a fair bit of goal kicking during my rehab so I was pretty disappointed in that,” Martin said. “If I had kicked a couple of them I would have been reasonably happy with my game, but those things will come.
“We had a good win so it’s obviously better than sitting in the stands and watching. I really enjoyed every moment I was out there and it was good to have a run around and have a kick.
“Now that I have that first one under my belt, I’ll really try and have a good performance this week and look to get that first league game and go from there.”
