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Martin relieved for 150-game milestone as Tigers cruise to victory

Neale HarveyKalgoorlie Miner
Boulder's Jack Martin.
Camera IconBoulder's Jack Martin. Credit: Carwyn Monck/Kalgoorlie Miner

Boulder forward Jack Martin will play out the remainder of the Goldfields Football League season with a fair degree of relief after chalking up his 150th game against Kambalda on Sunday.

In a milestone that was perfectly scripted and 11 years in the making, Martin kicked 7.4 as the Tigers cruised to victory by 47 points, 15.14 (104) to 8.9 (57), at Kambalda West Oval.

The 28-year-old’s seven goals was short of the career-best nine he booted in April 2016, also against Kambalda.

But his big haul notwithstanding, Martin said he was simply relieved and honoured to finally reach the milestone, which carries automatic life membership of WA’s oldest regional club.

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Martin debuted with the black-and-golds under Simon Edwards in 2011 and played in the 2016 premiership.

But he was forced to fight back from adversity after a serious knee injury sidelined him for the entire 2018 season.

He becomes the Tigers’ 99th life member.

“The boys were pretty generous in getting the ball to me,” Martin said of his day out at full-forward.

“But it was definitely a relief because once it (the milestone) gets closer, you probably tend to think about it too much.

“That’s when you get injured or distracted and end up missing out (on league selection).

“In that regard, it’s nice just getting back to playing footy and I’m absolutely rapt to be a life member of the oldest club in WA.

“It’s been a great club to be part of, with so many great people involved and a lot of them are life members.

“I’m happy to be one of them.”

Boulder crowned its inaugural life members in 1930 when Mr and Mrs McBride were honoured, with Martin joining Simon Hogan and Luke Ryan, who were honoured last year.

The list also includes coach Edwards (2006) and the Tigers’ current women’s coach Danny Hayes (2004).

Boulder led last Sunday’s clash by a point at quarter-time before turning on a seven-goal second term.

Former Gold Coast Suns player Jarrod Garlett was superb in a losing effort for Kambalda and kicked six goals.

The Eagles, however, are without a victory after 10 games in 2022.

With seven wins, Boulder are outright second, a game ahead of Mines Rovers.

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