A bulked-up Nic Martin used his post-season break in Perth to get fitter and stronger as he looks to build on his remarkable debut season at Essendon.
The 21-year-old Subiaco product added three kilos to his frame ahead of his first full AFL pre-season with the help of prominent WA personal trainer Gerard ‘Body Majic’ Majda, who also works with Luke Jackson, Blake Acres, Sean Darcy and Trent Rivers.
Martin is already reaping the benefits of going the extra mile, capped off by a 2km time trial win this week on return from the Christmas break.
“I went straight back to Perth after the season finished and did a gym program with Body Majic, trying to get my body right for a full AFL pre-season,” Martin told The West Australian.
“I’ve never had a full AFL pre-season before so I thought I’d get on top of it early and give myself the best opportunity to go full steam ahead.
“I wanted to put on some kilos and some muscle mass which I did, while also not losing my running ability because I feel like that’s my one-wood.
Martin won a spot on the Bombers’ list through last year’s Pre-Season Supplementary Selection Period (SSP) after a successful training stint.
It came a year after he was overlooked by West Coast for a spot on their rookie list.
He went on to earn the opening-round Rising Star nomination with a remarkable 27-disposal, five-goal debut against premiers Geelong and played 21 of a possible 22 games.
“I still sort of pinch myself with the situation that I’m in,” Martin said.
“I’m so grateful and blessed to be at Essendon and my first year certainly exceeded my expectations a little bit.”
The 192cm forward/midfielder said he took a lot of confidence, and some important lessons, out of his training stint at the Eagles into his breakout WAFL season with Subiaco which propelled him back onto the draft radar.
Then came a call from the Bombers, less than a couple of months after winning a senior flag at the Lions, which he thought could be his “last opportunity” to get onto an AFL list.
“I took a lot of confidence from the West Coast train-on stint, I felt like I competed really well and that I could match it at AFL level,” Martin said.
“There was a little bit of feedback (from the Eagles) about my maturity physically which is so understandable when I look back, I was nowhere near as physically as I am now.
“But I was able to take that confidence into the WAFL season and I was fortunately enough to win a premiership at Subiaco.
“As soon as I got that phone call from Essendon, I just put the head down and thought this could be my last opportunity to get onto an AFL list.”
Martin said there was great optimism and against at Essendon under new coach Brad Scott after a disappointing season last year saw the end of Ben Rutten.
