WOODVILLE-WEST Torrens midfielder Grace Martin is quietly flying under the radar in the 2024 SANFL Women’s season. The top-age Eagles midfielder was prominent playing on-ball in the loss to Glenelg, racking up seven clearances and seven inside 50s to go with her 10 tackles and 19 disposals.

Not the largest accumulator and Martin can tend to win a lot of touches in close, when out in space she is a clean user with high level footy smarts that enable her to pinpoint passes. Her speed has been a question mark on her game, though she has been working hard on that element, with strength and power in her legs enabling her to break tackles.

Unfortunately Martin suffered a concussion in Round 3 when averaging  18.3 disposals, 1.7 marks, 5.0 clearances, 4.0 inside 50s and 2.0 tackles, forcing her to miss the Round 4 and Round 5 matches due to concussion protocols. In the past fortnight, Martin has picked up where she left off, averaging 20.5 disposals, 2.0 marks, 6.5 clearances, 5.5 inside 50s and 6.5 tackles.

South Australia Girls, Eagles Women'sMidfielder-Forward

Grace Martin

Height: 162cm

Weight: -

DOB: 01-09-2006

PLAYER FOCUS

2024 SANFL Women’s: Round 7
Woodville-West Torrens 3.0 (18) lost to Glenelg 4.7 (31)

#7 Grace Martin (WWT Eagles)
Stats: 19 disposals (14 kicks, 5 handballs), 1 mark, 10 tackles, 7 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

FIRST HALF

Grace Martin started the game with a good first tackle on the dangerous Jess Bates, and while she could not take it cleanly herself at the next stoppage, tried to get it into space. Her defensive pressure continued a couple of minutes later by laying a good tackle on Glenelg skipper Sam Franson and continued to put pressure on the opposition without really registering a disposal.

In the second half of the first term, Martin would begin to rack up the ball and finish the quarter with five disposals, as she won it in the back pocket, through the middle, on the wing and at half-forward, showing her running capacity across the ground. She delivered it well cleanly and showed a great technique by foot, while being clean at ground level. In the 18th minute she delivered a brilliant low bullet to centre half-forward.

The second term was quieter from a production standpoint, but Martin still started in the middle and won a clearance going inside 50 from a follow-up stoppage in the first minute. Her other highlight of the quarter was taking a good intercept mark inside 50 but her kick in turn was also picked off, well read by fellow State Academy member, Poppy Scholz.

SECOND HALF

Martin’s second half started in good fashion with a quick snap around her body down the wing in the opening minute. She remained in the wing in the early stages with the ball out there, taking it cleanly and dishing off a quick handball. In the third minute, Martin read the ball off hands at the stoppage to perfection, finding space between opponents and driving the legs forward to charge out of congestion. Though tackled, Martin was able to still kick clear and put it deep inside the Eagles’ forward 50.

Later in the quarter, Martin locked the ball up in the middle and did well not to give away a holding the player free kick waiting until her opponent had actually taken possession to lay the tackle. She would end the third quarter with 14 disposals to her name.

The final term saw Martin cop a high free kick charigng through a defensive stoppage. She switched into the other back pocket effectively, and then a couple of minutes later, won another free kick for a high tackle. She played on from defence and kicked long to the wing for another touch.

In the fifth minute, Martin was on the end of handballs to deliver a kick inside 50 and keep the pressure on the Glenelg defence. By the time the final siren had sounded, the Eagles teenager had finished with 19 disposals, as well as a game-high seven inside 50s, and team-high seven clearances.

CLOSING THOUGHTS…

Grace Martin is a top-ager who has draft potential this year. A natural midfielder who can roll forward, Martin has really built up her endurance over the years, and has been working hard on her speed. In terms of her natural footballing ability, Martin is a lovely user of the ball, particularly in space, and she generally makes good decisions.

One of the few top-age pure inside midfielders for her state, Martin will have a big role to play at the national championships, and that will give her a great opportunity to showcase her wares against the best in the country. For now, Martin is continually performing strongly for the Eagles and will be hoping for continuity for the rest of the season.