Toast Thank You Stef Martin !

[moncon]

What a legend. I hope:
- he goes alright at the Dogs
- he’s not remembered only for the S May hit
- somehow there’s appropriate restitution for the S May hit
- the Big O plays every game next season!

 

[WheildonTheAxe]

After the finals campaign it felt like the best was past him and I was ready to move on. But seeing him go to another club makes me sad. The Herculean rise from fringe utility to top five ruck was one of the few highlights of those lean years. Plus such a lovely, bright man too. I hope the move works for him.

 

[Zhesty]

Great clubman, the Dogs just became a team I'll be rooting for except against us.

 

[Gadzorks]

I hope he reaches the legend level enjoyed by Ben Hudson

Ben Hudson

Age

46

Ht

199cm

Wt

106kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.2

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

9.0

5star

CL

4.1

5star

HO

17.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

6.4

2star

K

2.6

1star

HB

3.8

3star

HO

9.8

5star

.

A true professional who has done everything he can to be his best, and give his best to our club.

if the dogs need leadership at training they’ve chosen well, he will quietly go about showing their players what it takes to be the best they can.

love your work Stef, glad that i got to know you as a player and all the best for whatever your future holds.

 

[moncon]

love your work Steph, glad that i got to know you as a player and all the best for whatever your future holds.

Is it Steph, or Stef? I hope I didn’t get that wrong.

 

[BuntonRules]

What an asset to the club through some dark times. Set standards for professionalism and effort for others to follow. Got everything possible out of himself physically. And when his time here was up moved on to the next phase as a consumate pro. Where ever he life goes, he will succeed.

Thanx, big man.

 

[Dalions]

Posted this in the trade thread a little while ago but I thought it was fitting to put it here.


Going to miss Stef, always loved hearing his interviews, his mature and measured responses. And genuine love and excitement for some success at the Lions After the hard times.
Will be genuinely sad to see him go.
I am happy for him that he got some success at the club in making finals this year and last and the Prelim this year.
I am hoping his next phase of football life and life beyond football are filled with joy.
Thanks for all of your hard work Stef.

 

[Gadzorks]

Is it Steph, or Stef? I hope I didn’t get that wrong.

Wikipedia says Stefan so I was wrong. Editing now

 

[Dizzle]

At his best he was a Top 5 ruck for a few years and sniffed All Australian once or twice. History will show he ended up playing at three clubs.

But for the Lions, Stef is the definition of a 'great clubman'. He was proof that sometimes reclamation projects work if you give good guys a chance. In a league where 'talent' is given chance after chance (witness one team imploding to keep DeGoey on the books), 'character' is too often overlooked. Stef is an elite athlete but without the mind-set, work ethic, diligence and willingness to wait patiently for his chance, no-one would ever have known.

In fact I would argue that Stef is as pivotal in building the positive club rep that we currently enjoy as anyone. He's also the second smartest Lion in recent years behind a certain Rhodes Scholar, and just a wonderful human being who happens to have been good at sport.

My fave Stef story is from about 4 years ago. There was a training session in Melbourne and my family made the trip over for a footy weekend so we attended. Afterwards the usual mingle with around 50 fans getting happy snaps and sigs. My son was around 7 and a little intimidated by the crowd so he stood on the side of the scrum, so Stef walked over, offered to sign his book, and chatted for a couple mins. He bent over so as to be around the same height as the boy and made his day.

Twenty mins later and we are waiting for a tram and the boys are walking past to their hotel or whatever. A couple players gave a wave and a seeya, then Stef jogged past obviously running a little late. My son called out 'bye Stef' and he yelled back 'Seeya Mitchell', ran another ten steps, then stopped and turned back. He ran back to us and said 'It is Mitchell isn't it?' We said 'yep' and Stef said 'Nice meeting you' and went on his way.

But wait. There's more: the next season we took our trip and went to Brisbane for the Sponsor's Function (always great). My son walked up to Stef with his jumper and cards. Stef started signing stuff and asked his name, and when he heard 'Mitchell' Stef said 'I've met you before haven't I?" My son said 'Yes, in Melbourne' and Stef doubled down and said 'But you're not from there are you?' (We're from WA.) I wouldn't have believed it if I wasn't standing behind the boy.

All players must speak to hundreds if not thousands of random wellwishers each year. That kind of recollection is astonishing. That kind of character is even more rare.

Was disappointed to see Stef's game fall off this year with injury and age. If anyone has the professionalism to regain his form it's Stef. The club will miss his skills, size and reliability on field. I think it will miss Stef the person more.

Go well big fella.