HE IS six kilograms heavier than when he joined the Gold Coast Suns, but Jack Martin is far from weighed down with expectation as he readies himself for his first season playing senior football.
At each step he has adapted and impressed and he is ready to take another one in about six weeks.
"At this stage I think I'm ready to play seniors in round one," Martin told AFL.com.au
He appears to have had a solid grounding on his way to becoming an AFL player.
Last season, when representing the Suns in the NEAFL, he learned to manage his body and his workload.
He learned to speak up when he was sore and he took feedback from his then coach Shaun Hart about pushing back to defend regardless of how tired his wiry body felt. Hart recently joined Port Adelaide as director of coaching after a five-year stint at the Suns.
With help from his dad and sister, Martin settled nicely into his new home. And when those two moved back to Broome, his girlfriend Elle moved over to join him.
He changed his game slightly too, even though he still regards himself as an inside-outside midfielder.
"I did not want to crack in, during the early days," Martin said. "I thought I'd change the way I played coming up against bigger bodies."
At the end of the NEAFL season, Hart had no reason to temper his praise for Martin.
"We saw everything, and a bit more, of what our recruiters told us we would see," Hart said.
And what made one of the AFL’s hottest youngsters stand out?
"He's got that ability to find another leg," Hart said.
During time trials, Hart noticed that whereas most players were happy to run at a similar pace for as long as possible, Martin took off much earlier.
He would replicate that during quarters when opponents were looking to breath.
"That is the surge in the game that will really frighten opponents," Hart said.
"[He has] the combination of courage in the contest at ground level and in the air – extreme given his size – and his ability to use both sides of his body and make great decisions has been terrific so far."
The Suns have been happy to talk about Martin's potential because they know that although he will face massive challenges at the next level he has the ability to think on his feet and adapt.
History suggests they have reason to be confident.
Martin has lived with pressure to deliver ever since he moved from Broome to Geraldton as a young teenager to play football at a standard that would test him.
And he has not let it affect him one bit.
Ian Taylor met Martin when the youngster arrived at Geraldton to live at the Clontarf Academy where Taylor works.
"He lives in a life of reality," Taylor said. "He doesn't expect too much and lives for the day."
Local goalkicking champion Dale Baynes, who played a single game with Collingwood in 2000, played alongside Martin at Towns in the Great Northern Football League.
"Apart from him being super talented, he is just a super kid. Nothing fazes him. He has had the expectation of going on to become an AFL player ever since he came down," Baynes said.
When he was touted as the next big thing ahead of 2012's mini-draft, Baynes saw no sign of the coverage getting to Martin.
"It didn't worry him," Baynes said. "[He] never lets things go to his head."
Jack Martin is set to chase down stars like Daniel Wells throughout 2014. Picture: AFL Media
Taylor also noticed Martin’s ability to knuckle down at school and catch up quickly to the other students - something the youngster was often required to do after representing Western Australia in under-age football or being part of the Flying Boomerangs talent program.
Martin is matter-of-fact when asked about this characteristic.
"Something I really wanted to do was get an education and graduate from school so I wasn't letting the footy side of things let me down in school," he said.
At Geraldton Secondary College, teachers noticed his off-field qualities as much as his on-field skill.
"When he finished work, he would help other students," Taylor said. "When there were things to do he rallied the class and led by example and other kids followed."
They are handy traits for such a precocious talent, good enough to be best on ground in a seniors' Grand Final with Towns in Geraldton's football league aged just 16.
In that game Martin kicked three goals in the first quarter after asking veteran Baynes to get out of the forward 50 so he could exploit a mismatch.
"He pulled rank on me," the former Magpie said with a laugh.
That night, as everyone took a swig from the premiership cup, Martin passed it on rather than taking a drink. Club officials remember it as indication of his discipline.
At 10pm that night, Martin was spotted heading home as the celebrations hit full swing. When asked why, he was pragmatic: he had school the next day.
It's probably why when you ring anyone who has been involved with Martin, their response is the same: he's a good kid.
Baynes had a final message for Martin before they parted ways.
"He said 'stick at it, don't go out too much, don't hit the nightclubs too much', and I have settled here with my girlfriend," Martin said.
On the field, he seems unshakeable too.
"[He has] a real two way hunger to work," Hart said. "That is a really unique characteristic for a young player."
Hart said Martin's personality shines through in the way he goes about his football.
"He has an innate desire to do what the team needs him to do, not just be the star who wants pats on the back," Hart said.
As his time under the spotlight draws nearer, even the unflappable Martin is starting to feel excited.
"I'm training really well, the body is fine and I'm feeling fit and I think I'm ready to go," Martin said.
"I am just excited about this year and hopefully I can stay on the track and keep working towards round one."
