He played junior basketball at an elite level, starting out with the strong Dandenong Rangers program and progressing to the Nunawading Spectres senior team in the ABA.

Along with his academic merit, his basketball abilities earned him a scholarship at Haileybury College and in 2003, the same year Martin made the Australian under-20s representative side.

In 2006, while still playing basketball, Martin decided to give in to his mates and join them at amateurs football club, Old Haileybury.

Despite playing most of his time at VFL level as a ruckman Martin was used as a defender for Melbourne showcasing his great leap, versatility, speed and agility for his height.

He competed in the 2008 AFL Grand Final Sprint, narrowly placing second to Richmond speedster Matthew White who won off scratch.

The Lions had planned Martin to play as a forward/ruck rotating with the first choice ruckman Matthew Leuenberger and first round draft pick Billy Longer.

Martin's first season at Brisbane started well, with him playing a key role in the team's NAB Cup premiership side.

He kicked goals in each of his first three AFL games with the Lions, before injuring his ankle early in the Round 4 clash against North Melbourne.

[8] Martin would then relish the responsibility as first ruck and went on to be one of the Lions' best performers in the second half of the season, producing career-best numbers almost every game.

He finished off the year with a huge performance in round 23 against the Western Bulldogs with 50 hitouts and 32 disposals in a win, gaining two Brownlow votes.

After two outstanding seasons, Martin dropped his performance in 2016 due to a number of injuries and setbacks including a head knock from Steven May that made global headlines in Round 4 against the Gold Coast Suns.

Martin surprised with a return the very next week but it wasn't until round 7 that he looked like his old self with a career high 51 hitouts and 22 disposals against Port Adelaide.