EMERGING Gold Coast prospect Jack Martin says he is nowhere near where he wants to get to as a footballer.

But he hopes the foundation he has laid so far in 2016 will stand him in good stead as his experience grows.

Having landed at the Suns as a 17-year-old with enormous talent, he has enjoyed the best season of his three-year AFL career, showing good form in defence and poise when he has the ball.

However, in a quiet voice he told AFL.com.au he hoped to make giant strides in the seasons ahead.

"It is only my third year and there is a lot of room for improvement and that is what I am excited about; not only for me but for the team collectively," Martin said.

He has also begun to feel as though he belonged at the level, having entered the competition accompanied with unrealistic expectations.

Martin said such hype doesn't affect him, but it was nice just to get dirty playing week after week rather than worrying about injury and his place in the team.

"[It] feels like everything has been lifted off my shoulders and I can actually go out and play footy," Martin said.

Signed to a five-year contract after joining the Suns, Martin hurt his shoulder in his first AFL game.

The interruption combined with the normal growing pains meant he missed the chance to get more than 23 senior games to his name in his first two seasons.

It was also a time when he learned what was required to move towards his best.

His friend and teammate Jarrod Harbrow has been watching Martin's evolution from close quarters.

"He's matured quite a lot, I reckon," Harbrow said.

"There was a point where he thought, 'I really have to start taking this seriously here. This is my job. I am an AFL footballer', and for him to become the player that he wants to be, he has to get every single thing right."

Harbrow said it was the classic case of a young player ensuring that his work ethic matched his talent.

Although showing his best in defence, Martin continues to see himself as a forward who will eventually develop into a midfielder.

"I still think I am a forward naturally," Martin said.  

"Obviously I don't have the body for [the midfield] at the moment to bash and crash with the bigger guys but over the next couple of years, when I put (on) a bit more weight and get a bit more bigger, I will be able to spend a bit more time there."

A smooth mover, Martin is beginning to slice his way into football supporters' consciousness.

He has just two more games in 2016, which he will play in defence, before beginning another pre-season on his journey towards becoming the player he wants to be.

"He has shifted his attitude quite a lot and I think he has got a really good balance at the moment," Harbrow said.