res ▁Award ▁as ▁the ▁player ▁of ▁the ▁final s ▁series . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁Martin ▁had ▁what ▁was ▁described ▁by ▁A FL ▁legend ▁Le igh ▁Matt he ws ▁as ▁the ▁greatest ▁ever ▁individual ▁season ▁by ▁a ▁V FL / AF L ▁player . ▁Despite ▁constant ▁spec ulation ▁over ▁his ▁playing ▁future , ▁Martin ▁won ▁the ▁league ' s ▁highest ▁individual ▁honour , ▁the ▁Brown low ▁Medal , ▁with ▁a ▁record ▁ 3 6 ▁votes , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁a ▁premi ership ▁and ▁the ▁Norm ▁Smith ▁Medal , ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁player ▁to ▁win ▁all ▁three ▁in ▁a ▁single ▁season . ▁He ▁also ▁won ▁numerous ▁other ▁acc ol ades , ▁including ▁the ▁Le igh ▁Matt he ws ▁Tro phy , ▁the ▁A FL CA ▁Champion ▁Player ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁Award ▁and ▁his ▁second ▁Jack ▁D yer ▁Medal . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁junior ▁football ▁Martin ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Castle ma ine , ▁Victoria , ▁to ▁a ▁M ā ori ▁father , ▁Sh ane ▁Martin , ▁and ▁an ▁Australian ▁mother , ▁Kath y ▁Knight . ▁His ▁father ▁has ▁family ▁connections ▁to ▁the ▁Ng ā ti ▁Mar u ▁tribe ▁on ▁New ▁Zealand ' s ▁north ▁island . ▁Martin ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁three ▁boys , ▁alongside ▁brothers ▁T ys on ▁and ▁Br ons on . ▁ ▁Martin ▁first ▁took ▁up ▁football ▁at ▁age ▁six , ▁learning ▁the ▁sport ▁with ▁the ▁local ▁Aus k ick ▁program . ▁He ▁would ▁also ▁play ▁regularly ▁with ▁his ▁brothers ▁on ▁their ▁self - construct ed ▁field ▁in