The middle-distance runner was dashing to the canteen to get a meat pie when a Carlton coaching clinic rolled into Eden High School looking for prospects. He ‘‘couldn’t kick or catch a footy’’ but Martyn would have done anything for a day off school. That chance for a day off school ultimately saw Martyn drafted to Adelaide and playing in the ‘‘bash and crash’’ SANFL with Woodville West Torrens.

It was a huge step up, but it meant sharing change rooms with the likes of Eagles’ greats Justin Cicolella and Luke Powell. It was a chance for the larrikin to grow into something more.

Grow he did, and he hasn’t stopped since joining the Canberra Demons almost three years ago to become the club’s vice-captain. As player-coach Kade Klemke puts it, he has gone ‘‘from one of the larrikins of the club to develop as a leader’’.

Now Martyn will play a key role off half-back for an unchanged Demons side entering the club’s first preliminary final against the Sydney Swans at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday.

‘‘Learning from [people like Cicolella and Powell] about preparing to play football and playing football was fantastic,’’ Martyn said. ‘‘When I saw myself coming back over to Canberra, I was 24 at the time, and [I’d be] able to use that knowledge and impart it on the younger guys.

‘‘We were in the doldrums a couple of years ago. It’s been a good mix with a culture change, obviously Kade came from a few different organisations and he has brought that culture from Queanbeyan, which as you can see, is one of the best in AFL Canberra, and implemented it into the Canberra Demons.

‘‘Coupled with our recruiting as well, being able to attain talent from the two academies, the [GWS] Giants and Swans, and also recruit some local players, it’s put us in good stead. It definitely comes back down to the culture. I think a good culture breeds success and that’s what we’ve been able to implement.’’

The free-flowing nature of the NEAFL is a perfect fit for an outside player like Martyn, who laughs he is happy to ‘‘let the lads do the work on the inside and I put the polish on top’’.

His transition from the wing to the half-back line has been a masterstroke from Klemke as the Demons edge closer to an historic premiership. Canberra have left Cameron Milne (concussion) and Thomas Faul (hamstring) out of the squad to face the Swans.

‘‘We think about winning because that’s what we’re there to do,’’ Martyn said. ‘‘If you go in and go ‘I just want to hold my own and I don’t want to get beaten’, then ... you set yourself up for failure.’’

Southport Sharks host the Aspley Hornets in the second preliminary final on Saturday.

NEAFL PRELIMINARY FINAL

Saturday: Sydney Swans v Canberra Demons at Blacktown International Sportspark, noon. Live stream on NEAFL TV.