Secret weapon behind Jack Martin's impending move to Geelong

A Geelong-based physio has emerged as one of the key reasons behind Jack Martin’s impending move to the Cats.

Martin will officially join Geelong as a delisted free agent after the Cats leapfrogged Fremantle for his services.

The 29-year-old, who played just three games in an injury-hit season this year, had options to continue his AFL career around the country with Fremantle strongly linked.

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But he settled on Geelong with 7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary revealing physio Peter Stanton was part of the pull to join the Cats.

“He isn’t a household footy name but he’s had a major impact,” Cleary said.

“Fixed Tom Hawkins’ 2013 back injury and was the reason Jack Martin stayed fit in the second half of 2023. Previously with the Cats & Lions (early 2000s). Being Geelong-based was a big factor in Martin’s decision.”

Cleary added that Carlton brought Martin’s treatment “more in-house” in 2024.

“After Jack Martin travelled far and wide last year (QLD, Canberra, Geelong) for soft tissue treatment from third party experts, his treatment was brought more in-house by the medical team at the Blues in 2024,” he said.

Martin played one senior game in Round 19 before returning for two more later in the season, but was subbed out early in the Round 22 loss to Hawthorn, which ended his season.

He was a big-money recruit at Carlton entering the 2020 season but after playing 15 games that year, he never managed more than 13 games in a campaign for the Blues.

He did, however, kick 17 goals in 2023 including two each in the Blues’ elimination final win over Sydney and preliminary final defeat to Brisbane.

Any hopes of contributing to Carlton’s flag push this year — and potentially earning a new deal — were destroyed by calf and hamstring troubles.

He will now join Geelong’s premiership tilt and link up with former Gold Coast teammate Jack Bowes in the process.

Martin originally joined the Suns in the 2012 mini-draft.

He played 97 games across six seasons with the Suns.

Martin will be the first acquisition of what could be a bumper trade period for Geelong.

Out-of-contract Western Bulldogs gun Bailey Smith has requested a trade to the Cats, while disgruntled Melbourne superstar Clayton Oliver is also hoping for a move.

While a Smith trade seems likely, the Oliver move will be far more complex given he is contracted for six more years on big money.