Pies elevate gun rookie
Collingwood has elevated mature age rookie Kyle Martin onto its senior list.
The 22-year-old takes the place of Alex Fasolo who has been shifted onto the long-term injury list after undergoing surgery to his injured foot last week.
Martin, a product of VFL club Frankston, has been in blistering form in the early rounds of the VFL season after appearing in four NAB Cup matches earlier this year.
He played his most complete match against Essendon last Saturday, collecting 29 possessions, laying 12 tackles and kicking six goals in one of the most dominant displays seen at state league level for several years.
“Kyle’s been elevated on the back of some consistent and really strong performances in the VFL,” Director of Football Geoff Walsh told collingwoodfc.com.au.
“Arguably he has been our most consistent player this season. His form in the midfield has been outstanding, he’s also been able to kick goals each week as evidenced by him sitting second on the club’s VFL goal kicking table.
“To date, he’s played a pretty impressive season. Alex Fasolo’s injury has opened up an opportunity for Kyle to step up as a long term injury replacement. It’s the old story; someone else’s misfortune creates opportunities for others. In Kyle’s case, it’s well deserved.”
It was only 18 months ago that Martin was cutting up opposition midfields with Noble Park in the Eastern Football League.
After winning several plaudits for his efforts at local level, he opted to try his hand at the VFL with Frankston after two years of phone calls from Dolphins coach Simon Goosey.
Martin went from strength to strength with the standalone Dolphins, winning their best and fairest and representing the VFL against the Tasmanian State League in May last year.
Despite interest from several clubs including Melbourne and Essendon, Martin was left sitting on the shelf after being overlooked in the National Draft and ended up slipping through to Collingwood with its first selection in last December’s Rookie Draft.
He has averaged 26.16 disposals in each of his six VFL games this year. He was heavily tagged against Werribee and Frankston in rounds two and three but hit back with hauls of 36, 34 and 29 in his past three matches.
Goosey has likened Martin’s style of play to that of Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel and when it was put to him in February, the self-effacing midfielder described himself as a player that “can just play inside and outside in the midfield and push forward.”
After his match winning performance at Victoria Park last Saturday, Martin was adamant that he is ready to take the next step.
“Yeah, I think I’m ready,” he said of the prospect of a promotion onto the senior list.
“It’s all about just doing everything you can for the team really. Everything you can for the team and I guess if the time’s there when they call up my name to step up and play I’ll be willing to take that opportunity and do my best at the job.”