CARLTON supporters got an all-too-brief taste of what Jack Martin can offer in Navy Blue.

After showing what he was capable of in the Marsh Community Series, Martin lit up the MCG with four goals in a quarter against the reigning premier.

Then, just like that, the season was on hiatus.

With so much debate in the pre-season about where Martin was best suited, the man himself believes a role similar to the one he played in Round 1 is the way forward — literally.

“I think I play my best footy up forward and pinch-hitting in the midfield,” Martin told Breakfast with the Blues.

“That’s more of the role that I’ll be playing in 2020 and the years to come at the Blues.”

As the wait continues for Carlton’s return to football on Saturday 13 June, Martin knows all about having to bide his time.

He said the way in which he became a Blue was a “stressful” time.

“I’ve got a few greys coming through on my beard: I know where they came from,” he said.

“We knew it was going to be hard going into the trade period… we were prepared for it to down that track and we had to be patient.”

As he sets out to create his own history in Navy Blue, there was a moment at the Carlton Cafe a few months ago which sticks in Martin’s mind.

“I don’t know too much about the history of the football club and the Indigenous players, but I was lucky enough to meet the great Syd Jackson a couple of months ago,” he said.

“He came over and we had a yarn. He seemed like a genuine guy.

“It was definitely a moment meeting him I’ll take with me forever.”