Will Martyn
Martyn with Richmond's VFL team in April 2021
Personal information
Full name William Martyn
Date of birth (2001-03-29) 29 March 2001 (age 22)
Original team(s) Brisbane Lions Academy (NAB League Boys)
Brisbane Lions reserves (NEAFL)
Draft No. 44, 2019 AFL draft
Debut Round 4, 2021, Richmond vs. Port Adelaide, at Adelaide Oval
Height 186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 82 kg (181 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club Richmond
Number 36
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2020–2022 Richmond 3 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2022 season.
Career highlights
  • NEAFL premiership player: 2019
  • Brisbane Lions Academy captain: 2019
  • Brisbane Lions Academy MVP: 2019
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

William Martyn (born 29 March 2001) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life, junior football and state-league football

Martyn first played junior football for the Aspley Football Club's under eight division.[1] He was a stand out player from an early age, joining the under 13 division of the Brisbane Lions Academy in 2014.[2] He represented the Brisbane North region at State Academy Championships over coming years, including in 2015.[3]

In 2016, Martyn represented Queensland at the Under 15 National Championships and was named best on ground in a premiership winning division 1 final with the Aspley Under 15 side that same year.[1][4]

In 2018, Martyn represented Queensland at the Under 17 National Championships, where he was regularly the side's leading ball-winner and named in his team's best players on two occasions.[5][6] He was one of three Queenslanders rewarded with All-Star selection at the end of that series, playing in an All-Star match at the MCG prior to that season's AFL Grand Final.[7]

Martyn was one of 150 elite junior talents selected to participate in the AFL Academy in 2019, before captaining the Lions Academy side in the 2019 NAB League Boys season, averaging 29 disposals and four clearances a game across five matches and ultimately winning the side's MVP award.[8][9] During the season, Martyn was named as part of a 26-player national under 18 squad to play against VFL side the Casey Demons in a one-off exhibition game.[10]

That same year, he represented Queensland as part of Allies side at the 2019 AFL Under 18 Championships.[11]

Following the tournament, Martyn was released by the Lions to play two senior NEAFL matches with rival side and his former junior club Aspley.[12] Impressive performances saw Martyn recalled to the Lions, where he made a second NEAFL club debut that year alongside non-selected AFL players in the Brisbane Lions' reserves side.[12] He remained with the side into its finals series and became a NEAFL premiership player in the club's grand final win over Southport.[9][13]

AFL recruitment

Martyn was invited to participate in the 2019 AFL draft combine, where he recorded the ninth best two kilometre time trial time (Six minutes 16 seconds).[14][15]

As a member of the Lions' academy, the club was given priority access to match any other club's bid on Martyn at the forthcoming AFL national draft.[16][17]

Prior to the draft, Martyn was projected by ESPN's Chris Doerre to be bid on at pick 59 by Hawthorn, with the Brisbane Lions expected to pass on the chance to match the bid.[18]

Junior statistics

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks

NAB League Boys

Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2019 Brisbane Lions 11 5 1 — 96 48 144 36 23 0.2 — 19.2 9.6 28.8 7.2 4.6
Career 5 1 — 96 48 144 36 23 0.2 — 19.2 9.6 28.8 7.2 4.6

Under 18 National Championships

Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2019 Allies 15 4 0 — 28 29 57 10 10 0.0 — 7.0 7.3 14.3 2.5 2.5
Career 4 0 — 28 29 57 10 10 0.0 — 7.0 7.3 14.3 2.5 2.5

AFL career

2020 season

Martyn was drafted by Richmond with the club's third pick and the 44th selection overall in the 2019 AFL national draft.[9][19]

After a full pre-season, Martyn narrowly missed selection during the AFL pre-season series, instead being named as a non-playing AFL-level emergency on one occasion and participating in a VFL pre-season match with the club's reserves side in the first week of March.[20][21][22] It was to be his final competitive match in many months though, as the following week's reserves match was cancelled due to safety concerns as a result of the rapid progression of the COVID-19 pandemic into Australia.[23] Though the AFL season would start on schedule later that month, just one round of matches was played of the reduced 17-round season before the imposition of state border restrictions saw the season suspended for an indefinite hiatus.[24][25][26][27][28] Martyn suffered a stress reaction in his foot upon a return to training in late-May, which saw him unable to participate at either level when the season eventually resumed after an 11-week hiatus.[29] In early-July and while Martyn continued to undergo rehabilitation on the injury, a virus outbreak in Melbourne saw the club relocated to the Gold Coast.[30] Martyn remained in Melbourne alongside the club's other junior contingent for the early weeks of that period, before joining his teammates in a second travelling party in late-July.[31][32] In place of an official reserves competition that year, Martyn took part in unofficial scratch matches against other clubs' non-selected players after his return from injury in August.[33][34] In round 14, Martyn was named a non-playing emergency at AFL level but ultimately spent the remainer of the season playing at reserves level.[35][36][37] Martyn went without making an AFL debut that year, in what was a premiership-winning season for the club.[38]

2021 season

Martyn began 2021 in the frame for an early season debut, featuring in the club's first choice AFL lineup during an unofficial practice match against Melbourne in February and on limited minutes in the club's sole official pre-season series match against Collingwood in March.[39][40] He was unable to secure a debut in round 1, instead being named as a non-playing emergency for the season opener while continuing to play pre-season matches with the club's reserves side in the VFL.[41][42] Following an injury to midfielder Dion Prestia in round 3, Martyn was called up to senior level to make his debut in the club's round 4 match against Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval.[43][44] After recording 12 disposals in the match, he was dropped back to reserves level the following week.[45][46][47]

2022 season

Martin did not play a game during the 2022 season and was subsequently delisted.[48]

Player profile

Martyn plays predominately as an inside ball-winning midfielder. With elite[49] hands, he is also notable for his defensive running and ability to apply pressure to opposition ball carriers in contested situations.[44]

AFL statistics

Updated to the end of round 23, 2022.[38]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2020 Richmond 36 0 — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
2021 Richmond 36 3 0 0 14 12 26 6 3 0.0 0.0 4.7 4.0 8.7 2.0 1.0
2022 Richmond 36 0 — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Career 3 0 0 14 12 26 6 3 0.0 0.0 4.7 4.0 8.7 2.0 1.0

Honours and achievements

NEAFL

Junior

Richmond Tigers (2020-)

Best[50] and fairest: Richmond took Will Martyn with their third pick in the 2019 draft and he claimed the Guinane Medal in just his second season at the club, but 1st season of VFL (due to COVID-19) while also earning two AFL games. Martyn polled 28 votes to beat Lachlan Street (24), Derek Eggmolesse-Smith (22), Callum Coleman-Jones (21) and Samson Ryan (20).

Personal life

Martyn's father Andrew played QAFL football with Windsor-Zillmere in the 1980s and 90s, as well as representing Queensland at state level.[12] His maternal uncle Cameron Buchanan, played for Zillmere and received the QAFL Grogan medal in 1991[51]

Martyn's paternal grandfather, William Ross Martyn played national level basketball with New Zealand in 1958.[52]

Martyn's paternal aunty, Leigh Martyn, represented Queensland softball in the 1990s, winning three Gillies Shields, as well as numerous National Fastpitch league titles.[53]

References

  1. ^ a b "Future Hornets stars shine in U15 Nationals". Aspley Hornets. Gameday. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  2. ^ "2014 Brisbane Lions Academy U13 - U18 Player Squads" (PDF). AFL. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  3. ^ "U14 State Academy Championships: full results". AFL Queensland. Gameday. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  4. ^ "2016 AFL Brisbane Juniors Grand Finals". AFL Brisbane Juniors. Gameday. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  5. ^ Alvaro, Michael (11 July 2018). "Maroons storm home to knock off Rams". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  6. ^ Williams, Peter (13 August 2018). "Scouting notes: U17s – Vic Country vs Queensland". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  7. ^ Williams, Peter (4 September 2018). "Dragons dominate Under 17 All Stars squads". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  8. ^ Balmer, Matt (25 October 2018). "AFL Draft: Full squads after radical overhaul for AFL Academy with focus on state-based academies". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "Martyn becomes a Tiger". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  10. ^ Twomey, Callum (3 April 2019). "Another Oakleigh star charges into Australian U18 squad". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  11. ^ Twomey, Callum (9 May 2019). "Potential first-round pick sheds kilos, Allies unveil U18 squad". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  12. ^ a b c Dawson, Andrew (26 November 2019). "Aspley Hornets AFC players Kobe Tozer and Will Martyn in the AFL draft spotlight". Courier Mail. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  13. ^ Kelly, Dan (13 September 2019). "NEAFL Grand Final: Team and Preview". Brisbane Lions. Telstra Media. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Will Martyn invited to trial at the 2019 combine". Brisbane Lions. Telstra Media. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  15. ^ Twomey, Callum (4 October 2019). "Former basketballer smashes 2km time trial record by 14 seconds". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  16. ^ Twomey, Callum (7 February 2019). "Academy prospects: Who's eligible for your club in 2019?". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
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  18. ^ Doerre, Chris (27 November 2019). "Every club, every pick: ESPN's full AFL phantom draft". ESPN. Disney. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  19. ^ Black, Sarah (28 November 2019). "Two cubs poached from Lions' den, 'Biggie' becomes a Tiggy". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Your club's draftees: Who's flying, who's R1 ready, who needs time?". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  21. ^ Collins, Ben (1 March 2020). "FOLLOW IT LIVE: Livewire Pie out, Tigers go in as named". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  22. ^ Mann, Brenton (8 March 2020). "VFL Tigers overrun Werribee". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  23. ^ Beveridge, Riley (13 March 2020). "Game off: Tiger stars to miss valuable practice match". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  24. ^ "AFL to go ahead with round one of men's 2020 season amid coronavirus pandemic". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  25. ^ Barrett, Damien (10 March 2019). "Why coronavirus could force the AFL to play games without fans". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  26. ^ Barrett, Damien (13 March 2020). "Coronavirus crisis: AFL makes call on round one". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  27. ^ Barrett, Damien (22 March 2020). "'Most serious threat in 100 years': AFL postpones season". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  28. ^ "AFL suspends season in response to coronavirus, with AFLW season cancelled — but NRL plays on for now". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  29. ^ "Injury Report: Round 4". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  30. ^ Jake Niall, Peter Ryan and Toby Crockford (15 July 2020). "AFL to move all Victorian clubs to Queensland to save season". The Age. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  31. ^ Marshall, Konrad. The Hard Way. Melbourne, Australia: Slattery Media Group. p. 40. ISBN 9781743797648.
  32. ^ Cavanagh, Chris (30 July 2020). "Bachar Houli issues unifying pandemic plea as he flies to Gold Coast hub". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  33. ^ Cleary, Mitch (10 June 2020). "Will your club play a scratch match this weekend?". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  34. ^ "Coaches' Corner: Clarke on development". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  35. ^ Ben Waterworth, Max Laughton and David Zita (29 August 2020). "AFL teams, Round 14: Mass changes for Magpies including the return of an out of favour star". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  36. ^ "Scratch match v Geelong player summary". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Scrimmage match v Collingwood player summary". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  38. ^ a b "Will Martyn". AFL Tables. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  39. ^ Twomey, Callum (26 February 2021). "Big Max dominates, fringe forward fires, Dusty finishes early". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  40. ^ Twomey, Callum (5 March 2021). "Tigers hang on in a thriller, Pies sweat on injuries". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  41. ^ Beveridge, Riley (17 March 2021). "TEAMS: Flag heroes missing, new Blues in, Martin out". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  42. ^ Mann, Brenton (4 April 2021). "VFL Tigers overrun Magpies to reign in the heat". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  43. ^ "Richmond's regeneration on the run". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  44. ^ a b "Tigers name two debutants for Port clash". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  45. ^ Mann, Brenton (17 April 2021). "VFL Tigers back in business with win over Zebras". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  46. ^ "Premiership pair return to face the Saints". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  47. ^ Greenberg, Tony (11 April 2021). "Tiger cubs to benefit from tough debut match". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  48. ^ "How your club is placed ahead of the list lodgement deadline and upcoming AFL draft". Fox Sports. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  49. ^ "Draft Prospect - Will Martyn". draftprospects.prod.afl. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  50. ^ "VFL Tigers seeing the silver linings". richmondfc.com.au. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  51. ^ "Grogan Medal", Wikipedia, 11 May 2020, retrieved 14 April 2021
  52. ^ "Alumni | Basketball New ZealandBasketball New Zealand". nz.basketball. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  53. ^ Queensland, Softball. "Qld Women History" (PDF).

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Will Martyn.
Richmond Football Club – current squad
2019 AFL national draft
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