Essendon youngster Nic Martin has continued his remarkable rise after being named the AFL’s Rising Star for Round 1 following a sensational debut performance.
Despite his side being on the end of a 66-point hiding at the hands of Geelong, Martin was by far the Bombers’ best player, picking up 27 disposals and kicking five goals.
Martin’s nomination was made even more impressive by the fact he wasn’t even on Essendon’s list a month ago, after being handed a spot during the Supplemental Selection Period (SSP).
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The WA native declared for the national draft in 2019, but was overlooked and had previous unsuccessful attempts join an AFL list via the SSP before being picked up by Essendon.
Martin and father-son prospect Tex Wanganeen were the two players given Essendon’s final list spots, and while Wanganeen took all the headlines due to his famous surname, Martin flew under the radar.
After having his AFL dream put on hold, the 20-year-old attended university and is nearing the completion of a tax accounting degree.
“When he wasn’t taken in the draft as an 18-year-old, I said to him it could be a good thing for you,” Martin’s manager Jason Dover told AFL.com.au.
“Some guys will have just been drafted, and when you get drafted they may no longer be on an AFL list. We said that two years ago.
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“He realised he could still go away and work and do an apprenticeship that he probably would have been doing on an AFL list anyway.
“He went to university and studied, but he never sat around and felt sorry for himself and waited to be get picked. He went to work.”
Martin beat out a number of debutants who enjoyed successful outings in Round 1, including the No.1 pick in last year’s draft, Jason Horne-Francis.
Adelaide’s No.6 pick Josh Rachele was the other leading contender for the Rising Star nomination after kicking five goals in a one-point loss to Fremantle, while Collingwood’s No.4 pick Nick Daicos grabbed 27 disposals in a win over St Kilda.