Lindisfarne forward Ryan Martin on hot form inside 50 and Two Blues’ premiership hopes

One of the SFL’s most in-form forwards has revealed the reasons behind Lindisfarne’s impressive forward line output this season despite the loss of a star player.

Lindisfarne forward Ryan Martin has booted 21 goals in his last four games to take his season tally to 36. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

He’s one of the SFL’s most in-form forwards but a modest Ryan Martin says it’s just nice to be playing his role in Lindisfarne’s charge towards a potential premiership this season.

The experienced forward has booted 21 goals across his last four contests while he has also hit the scoreboard in every game this season in a strong sign of his consistency.

Starting his strong month inside 50 with two goals against Cygnet, Martin followed that up with bags of eight, five and six in the Two Blues’ three straight wins over Claremont, Dodges Ferry and Brighton.

Martin applies a tackle on Mitchell Lister (Cygnet) back in round 8. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Of all the competition’s forwards, only Cygnet big man Joe Direen (23 goals) has hit the scoreboard more in the past four games than Martin who now sits sixth on the SFL’s goal kicking leaderboard with 36 majors from his nine games.

“It’s been nice to get on the end of a few, especially this last month,” Martin said.

“No real secret behind it. I think we’ve just been playing some good footy as a team and the forward line is working well a part of that.”

Working well may be an understatement given the even spread of goal kickers at Anzac Park this season.

Off-season recruit Ed Stanley (44 goals) currently sits second behind Direen (56) on the leaderboard while Martin (36), Dylan Johns (21) and Sam Adams (15) have all been able to fill the void left by Josh Green.

Green was the competition’s most damaging forward before his return to TSL club Clarence this season, booting 183 majors across two seasons.

He kicked 97 in the Two Blues’ premiership year in 2022 before following that up with another 86 last year.

A three-time premiership player at the club, Martin said it was pleasing they had been able to share the load following Green’s departure.

Martin’s former teammate Josh Green departed Lindisfarne for a return to Clarence this season. Picture: Linda Higginson

“We’ve definitely stood up as a forward line this year,” he said.

“I think it makes it easier when your teammates know exactly how you play. It’s clear our midfielders know how potent our forwards are and how well we work, so by them not crowding our forward line it’s allowing us to be able to hit the scoreboard.”

Now sitting 9-1 and in second spot on the table, Martin was confident the bridge between the Two Blues’ and undefeated ladder leaders Cygnet wasn’t a massive one with the group firmly focused on adding another premiership come September.

“I don’t think there’s too much of a gap (with Cygnet),” he said.

“I think our last quarter (in round 8) obviously let us down. We just sort of went back in our shells and they pulled on a few goals and yeah, that’s pretty much just the difference.

“Everyone around the club believes that we can go all the way this season but we know there is still a long way to go.”

Lindisfarne face Hobart on Saturday from 2pm before a bye in round 13.