WARNING TO LIONS
Martin says hosts can’t rely on crowd
AFL: Brisbane ruckman Stefan Martin says the Lions can’t rely on the Gabba crowd to get them home against Richmond tomorrow night.
Brisbane play their first AFL final in 10 years and the 32-year-old said while the home-field advantage was important, it was also key that they up their game following on from the 27-point loss to the Tigers in round 23 at the MCG.
“It’s definitely an advantage but the trick would be not to fall into the false security that the job’s done,” Martin said.
“We have got to play way better than we did at the ‘G to beat them. Even though the game is here, we really need to improve because we got beaten in a lot of areas in that game.
“Yes we are at the Gabba and it’s really an advantage, but we have to capitalise on it.
“We are confident at the Gabba and we obviously have played some good footy here, but if we serve up what we did at the ‘G, it won’t cut it.”
Martin will sample finals football for the first time in a career which began at the Demons in 2008, ironically with a debut against Brisbane.
He struggled for game time in Melbourne and was traded in 2012 as a ruck/forward, but again failed to cement a regular spot, playing just five games in his first season north. .
Injuries to Matthew Leuenberger and Trent West midway through the 2014 season opened the door for Martin to become the No.1 ruckman. He has missed four games since.
“It’s been a long time in footy without playing any finals, so I am very excited,” the 180-gamer admitted.
“The whole process is all new to me. It’s really nice to get all that out the way and play finals.
“I am pretty happy with the order of events. If I had have played a final earlier in my career and nothing since it would have been a lot harder to take than the way it’s gone.
“I think it’s nice to build up to it and do it at the later stage of my career.”
Martin is likely to come up against premiership ruckman Toby Nankervis on Saturday night, with the Richmond star likely to overcome an adductor injury which forced him to miss 11 games mid-season.
“I don’t think you need to change too much,” the 199cm Martin said. “Of course I am going to look at him as a player if he comes in and try to work out how to beat him. I also back myself to play my own game as well.”
If the Lions win on Saturday night they will host a preliminary final in two weeks. Lose and they will play either the Giants or Western Bulldogs at the Gabba next week in a cut-throat semi-final.
“The intensity of the game will just go up a bit I am sure.
“I am going to rehash what Fages tells us and that’s all year we have been aiming at constant improvement and it will be silly to deviate from that now.”