Emotional Jack Martin reveals the stress and anxiety ahead of his move to Carlton
It’s been a stressful six weeks for Carlton recruit Jack Martin. And as the new Blue faced the media, the emotion spilt over as the relieved midfielder spoke of his relief at joining his preferred home.
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Jack Martin had put on a brave face, but then the conversation turned to Stephen Silvagni.
With the Carlton list boss watching over Martin’s press conference unveiling on a sun-drenched Ikon Park, Martin offered a brief insight into his six weeks of torment.
The Gold Coast-Carlton trade fell over, the Suns threatened to re-draft him and Melbourne made noises about hijacking the deal in what was a white-knuckle rollercoaster ride for the shy 24-year-old from Broome.
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“You want to be confident (of getting to Carlton), but it’s obviously hard,” Martin said, tears welling.
“You’re just sitting back and waiting. But when I got the phone call this morning from ‘SOS’ I was … excited and happy. And emotional.”
Except Martin didn’t answer that call. He was out for breakfast with whom he hoped were about to become his new Carlton teammates when Silvagni’s calls went unanswered.
Such was the pre-season draft day nerves, Martin was only nibbling on a piece of toast and downing his third coffee when Patrick Cripps passed him his phone with the message he’d been desperate to hear.
He was a Carlton player.
“The last few weeks have been stressful, but there’s a sense of excitement and happiness and, I guess, relief at the same time,” Martin said.
“It’s obviously been a long time coming, but I’m just happy to be here and I’m excited about the journey ahead.”
Yet Martin arrives a talent unfulfilled.
Touted as the most talented junior many experts had seen, Martin’s six seasons at the Suns were a mix of the sublime and the ordinary.
He arrives on big coin, but also with what the Blues believe is big upside.
For Martin’s part, he is hungry to deliver in footy heartland.
“Just getting to Melbourne and playing for a big club – I want the challenge, I want to challenge myself and the time is right now,” he said.
Jack Martin finally in navy blue at @CarltonFC
— Sam Edmund (@SammyHeraldSun) November 29, 2019
Story to come at @superfooty pic.twitter.com/dkSEnTMd3r
“I think I’m ready. I want to come to Melbourne and I want to prove myself and I’m ready for the challenges ahead. I’ve committed for five years and give everything to the Carlton Football Club.
“I just want to be amongst footy in Melbourne and experience it all.”
Martin simply said it was “the right time” to leave the Gold Coast and that Carlton was “the right suitor for me”.
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Then there’s the Eddie Betts factor.
“It was pretty massive. I’m that excited I can’t wait,” Martin said.
“Just to play with an indigenous great, who is back at Carlton. We’ve been in contact the last couple of weeks and I can’t wait to run out next to him.
“Knowing guys I’ve played with in the past makes the transition a lot easier. I obviously played with ‘Crippa’ (Cripps) and I know ‘Samo’ (Sam Petrevski-Seton) and Mitch McGovern and that’s going to make it a lot easier.”
Originally published as Emotional Jack Martin reveals the stress and anxiety ahead of his move to Carlton