Dogs recruit on seven-year chase

WESTERN Bulldogs ruckman Stefan Martin has revealed his new side had been trying to recruit him for several years before finally snaring their man.

After spending eight years at Brisbane, Martin opted to take up a new opportunity with the Dogs and return to Melbourne.

Justin Leppitsch, who used to coach him at Brisbane, revealed on SEN’s Crunch Time that Western Bulldogs had been trying to lure him for a long time.

“The Western Bulldogs have been trying to (recruit) him for about five years way back to when I was coaching Brisbane,” Leppitsch said.

“They eventually landed their man at 34, what an influence he had. He allowed Tim English to provide other strength for the side to go forward and mark the footy.

“He even looked a lot more comfortable of a footballer because of that.”

Martin was impressive in last Friday night’s 16-point win over Collingwood, combining with English to form a formidable ruck partnership.

The 34-year-old said he was humbled that the Dogs had been tracking him for multiple years at Brisbane before the deal happened.

“It’s true,” he said. “It’s really nice for me to know that the club has liked the way (I play) and has done so for several years.

“I was looking to get home a while ago and had some personal circumstances that meant I wanted to get back.

“It was a real thing, but I love the way my career has panned out and loved my eight years at the Lions and never would want to take that back.”

– BY LAURENCE ROSEN/ SEN