Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton says Stefan Martin holds the key for the Western Bulldogs if they are to beat Melbourne in Saturday’s Grand Final.
The veteran ruckman made a timely return for the Bulldogs’ Preliminary Final win over Port Adelaide having not played since Round 12.
Martin has returned to near full fitness at the right time for the Dogs after battling shoulder, groin and Achilles injuries throughout an interrupted 2021 campaign.
With Melbourne star Max Gawn in rare form after a dominant five-goal performance in his side’s 83-point Preliminary Final thrashing of Geelong, Martin will play an important role in nullifying Gawn’s influence.
“Can I give you my one most important player?” Brereton asked on SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“I only think the Dogs can win if this bloke plays really well and even if he plays really well, he probably won’t even be in the top six for his team, and that’s Stefan Martin.
“He has to do well against Max (Gawn) at the stoppage, he has to take the steam out of Max so that when Tim English goes in there, Tim can be a genuine second ruckman.
“Stef Martin has to negate Max down the line, and he has to negate Max at the centre bounce. He has to do really well.
“I don’t think they can go all that well unless Stef Martin goes all that well.”
Martin, 34, started his career at the Demons, playing 57 games in red and blue before moving to Brisbane at the end of 2012.