EFL 2018: Former Collingwood player Kyle Martin continues dominant campaign for Noble Park with 48-disposal, four-goal effort against Montrose

IS there a better local footballer than Kyle Martin? The former Collingwood on-baller was at it again for Noble Park on Saturday, producing a monster game against Montrose.

IT’S untrue Kyle Martin hit the 50-possession mark for Noble Park on Saturday.

The former Collingwood midfielder had 48 disposals — and kicked four goals — as the Bulls charged to a 24.7 (151) to 12.12 (84) win over Montrose at Montrose Recreation Reserve.

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One wag suggested to Leader after the match that Noble coach Mick Fogarty had an ambulance on standby just in case his captain went down with leather poisoning.

Earlier in the season Fogarty declared Martin the best player he had seen in local football, and he poured praise on him again this morning.

“What more can I say? I say the same about him every week,’’ he said.

“But yesterday he did things I hadn’t seen him do for a while. What I mean by that is, I’ve seen him take marks running the opposite way with traffic coming, things like that, but he was at another level yesterday.

“He was absolutely outstanding. He kicked some beautiful goals, difficult goals from stoppage situations.’’

Kyle Martin had 48 disposals and kicked four goals on Saturday. Picture: AAP/ Chris Eastman.

Martin has won best and fairests in 10 of his past 11 seasons — including three at VFL level — and is set to add another trophy to his haul this year.

Unfortunately a one-match suspension will rule him out of reckoning for the Eastern league Division 1 award.

With both teams going in with 5-10 records a tight match was expected but by half time Noble had a 25-point advantage. And it dominated the second half to boot its highest score of the season.

“It was a pretty fast game, particularly in the second quarter. It was a shootout, something like eight goals to six,’’ Fogarty said.

“We didn’t mind that, as long as we kicked more than them.

“But after half time we went bang, bang, bang. It was a terrific win against a team around the same mark on the ladder. It’s hard to win at Montrose. Even when we’ve had fairly strong Noble Park sides we’ve found it difficult there.’’

Kyle Martin grabs possession during his days at Collingwood.

There were five goals for Piva Wright, four for second-gamer Ben Marson and Martin, and three for Will Collis, who had finally returned to earth after his spectacular high mark last week.

Jackson Sketcher (30 possessions), Jake Gains, Brayden Haynes, Bailey Lambert and Tom Glen were strong contributors too.

Fogarty was thrilled with big man Haynes.

“He came back into the side and competed really well. He does every week. But he’s starting to win some ball now. He’s really come on this year.’’

The Bulls host Doncaster on Saturday.