THERE will be no nursing Jack Martin through his first AFL season, with Gold Coast keen to play the teen sensation as often as possible.
Martin will play the Suns' first NAB Challenge match against Essendon on Monday night and will then be assessed on a game-by-game basis.
Football manager Marcus Ashcroft says Gold Coast has a good blueprint to work from, with Martin's teammate Jaeger O'Meara blazing an identical trail 12 months ago.
Like Martin, O'Meara had 12 months in the system to prepare for his first full season after being taken via the GWS 17-year-old mini-draft.
O'Meara played all 22 games and won the NAB Rising Star award in 2013, and Ashcroft said the Suns would similarly use Martin as much as his body would allow.
"We know Jack's a different player ... but I think for Jack, he's fit and ready to go so we'll play him and then assess him after every game," Ashcroft said.
Martin played 10 games with the Suns reserves in the NEAFL last season as they eased him through his first year.
Ashcroft said being exposed to an AFL program for 12 months allowed the Suns to treat Martin like any other player.
"He's had a full year with us and we think he's been fairly resilient in that time.
"We're confident he can handle the rigours of the AFL from week to week, but until he gets into it and experiences it, we won't really know.
"We need to be conscious it's still his first year in the AFL and we'll monitor him from week to week."
Martin, who recently turned 19, will play a mix between midfield and forward.
He has all the skills and is one of Gold Coast's best ball users, but one of Martin's best attributes is his defensive pressure, which will be ideal in the forward 50.
"We think all those attributes he showed in the lower level, we'd love to see in the AFL, so we'll give him a chance in those positions," Ashcroft said.
Gold Coast conducted a light skills session on the Metricon Stadium training field on Wednesday, with Dion Prestia striding out for the first time since injuring his calf last week.
He is expected to be available for selection in either the second or third pre-season match.
