Kyle Martin, a 23-year-old in his second season on the club’s rookie list, has been granted a promotion onto the senior list.
Martin replaces injured full back Nathan Brown, who has been moved onto the long-term injury list.
The midfielder, who played four senior games midway through 2013, has been in outstanding form in the VFL where he averages 25.8 disposals, 6.4 clearances and 5.8 tackles per game.
“He’s been in really good form over a long period of time,” Director of Football Rodney Eade told collingwoodfc.com.au.
“He’s probably been unfortunate that he hasn’t been playing before, but there are a lot of players competing in that area, I suppose, as a midfielder. Swanny (Dane Swan) won’t be playing this week, so the opportunity has arisen for him.
“He certainly thoroughly deserves his opportunity and when you’ve got that good form behind you obviously you’d hope it would be a lengthy stay.”
Martin arrived at the Westpac Centre with the 13th overall selection in the Rookie Draft of December 2012.
Originally from Noble Park via Frankston, Martin won Collingwood’s VFL best-and-fairest (the Joseph Wren Memorial Trophy) in 2013 after averaging 24.7 disposals, 7.8 clearances and 7.2 tackles per game.
Despite spending the majority of his 25 VFL games in the centre square, Martin has pushed forward to kick an incredible 58 goals in his two seasons as a Magpie.
Standing at 180cm, Martin won Frankston’s best-and-fairest in 2012 (his only season at the club). He was also named in the VFL’s representative team and in its Team of the Year.
He played TAC Cup football with the Sandringham under-18s where he represented Vic Metro at the National Championships in 2008.
After he was overlooked on draft day, Martin returned to local football where he collected several best-and-fairests with Noble Park in the Eastern Football League.
Martin’s promotion is not the only change to Collingwood’s list.
Prized draft pick Matthew Scharenberg returns to the senior list after overcoming his foot injuries.
The man who originally replaced Scharenberg, Jack Frost, was then returned to the rookie list, but only momentarily.
Frost is now back on the senior list as a replacement for Ben Hudson, who has been moved onto the long-term injury list.
In essence, Martin and Frost replace Brown and Hudson, while Scharenberg returns to his place on the senior list.
37. Kyle Martin
Height: 180cm
Weight: 77kg
Recruited From: Noble Park/Frankston
AFL
Debut: Brisbane v Collingwood, Round 10 2013
Games: 4
Goals: 6
VFL
Debut: Frankston v Port Melbourne, Round 1 2012
Games: 42
Goals: 71
Season 2014 (averages in brackets)
Disposals: 309 (25.8)
Clearances: 77 (6.4)
Tackles: 70 (5.8)
Inside 50s: 73 (6.1)
Marks: 65 (5.4)
The players and coaches react to the news that Kyle Martin has been promoted onto the senior list.
