STRENGTHS:

+ Contested work
+ Groundballs
+ Strength
+ Versatility
+ Clean skills
+ Defensive pressure

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Four-quarter consistency
- Composure

PROFILE:

Grace Martin is a really well-balanced player who while not having necessarily elite traits compared to some others, her areas of improvement are also far less impactful to the way she plays than others. What some consider the 'floor' or minimum ability to contribute, Martin's is higher than most given her attitude and attributes she applies each and every time she goes out on the field.

Martin's versatility is definitely a major element of her game. She has successfully played as a forward, midfielder and defender, winning All-Australian honours in the latter despite being more well versed in the two former. Her kicking skills are very good and she makes good decisions when in time and space. By hand in close or around the ground, Martin can play a linking role, and while not explosive, the South Australian has significantly improved her speed.

On the latter point, Martin finished her bottom-age season with speed being the main question mark on her game. Working alongside Daniel Menzel at the Eagles, Martin built up her power through her legs to turn her speed from a weakness into a element that would not hold her back. She only needed to improve that little extra considering her strength that enables her to breakthrough tackles and get her hands free to dispose of the ball cleanly.

Martin herself sees her groundlevel work as her greatest strengths, taking the ball cleanly and without a backwards step in close. She attacks the contest hard, wins it and feeds it out to teammates or bombs the ball forward to clear the danger zone. While her composure in those situations is an area that can further improve, the majority of her game when in the midfield is well-rounded in the sense that she can win first or second possessions in scoring chains, and facilitate or distribute when going forward.

The other element of Martin's game that stands out is her defensive pressure. Her tackling numbers have risen each year in the SANFLW and while others might have crazier tackling stats, Martin is often the one getting to the ball first, or locking it up to reset at stoppages. Her courage both in the air and at ground level is undeniable, and she defines toughness with the way she plays.

Her decision making and footy IQ were areas she wanted to improve on entering her top-age season, and she turned them into borderline strengths if anything. With ball in hand - other than in congested situations - she uses the ball consistently well and is able to retain possession for her side with her decisions. Her work in analysing the game more throughly paid off.

While we touched on her composure with ball in hand, that is largely centred around when under pressure. In time once she has had the confidence to use her improved speed, she will be able to have that extra split second to dispose of it, and have the same impact with the pill as she does around the ground.

Off the top it was mentioned Martin does not have too many weaknesses that hold back her game and this is true. However four-quarter consistency is another area where the South Australian could further round out her game. In the national championships, she had two disposals to half-time against Vic Metro, before having an 18-disposal second half. In some SANFLW games she will often start in a blaze of glory and fade out, or pop up for a quarter or a half and be everywhere.

The above can be contributed to both being thrown around in different positions, but also will come with more experience and is nothing new to top-age prospects. Her best is very good, and while inside work can often go unrecognised at times, Martin is more than capable on the outside to impact as well.