Martin was taken with pick three in last year’s NAB AFL Draft and has impressed everyone at Punt Road with his quick adaption to senior football.
Midfielder Brett Deledio said he would not be surprised to see Martin and fellow rookie Jeremy Webberley in the side on the weekend.
“He (Martin) has come in and played some good footy early on. He has put a few of us older blokes to shame," Deledio said.
"He’s nearly bigger than most of us and he wins a bit of his own footy".
Deledio also gave a nod of approval to other draftees Ben Nason and Troy Taylor, and said the younger players had contributed to a discernible change in the team dynamic since the retirements of Nathan Brown, Matthew Richardson and Joel Bowden.
“It is definitely a different feeling. It’s a fresh feeling. Everyone’s excited and I’ve noticed a difference in meetings. It’s not dominated by more experienced players, younger players feel like they can say something and speak up,” he said.
“I’m still only 22 but I feel like an old bloke down there. This is my sixth pre-season so I guess I try to take as much responsibility as I can with the younger guys. But in saying that, I’m still pretty young myself.”
Saturday’s match against Hawthorn will be Damian Hardwick’s first in charge and Deledio said the team will be rolling out a new style of play.
“It’s a lot more structured, yeah. It’s not as free-flowing but in saying that we’re still encouraged to take the game on when we need to," he said.
"Hopefully it will be exciting and we get our first chance against a good opposition in Hawthorn this week."
Hawthorn midfielder Jordan Lewis said Hardwick was the right fit for Richmond after serving his coaching apprenticeship with the Hawks.
“He had a great five years at our club and was well-respected,” Lewis said.
“We are really excited for him to see him at another club and we only hope the best for him and hopefully he does well . . . except this week.”
