Double trouble as Martignago brothers chase Colts glory with Sharks

Less than a month after they teamed up in Colts for the first time, Lincoln, 18, and his 16-year-old brother Aiden are set to line up together in Sunday’s twilight decider against arch-rivals South Fremantle at Optus Stadium from 4.40pm.

It’s something neither of them could have imagined until recently, with Aiden getting a grand final opportunity in just his third game.

GET YOUR GRAND FINAL TICKETS HERE

“It’s really exciting,” Aiden, who was part of WA’s drought-breaking AFL Under-16s title earlier this year, said.

“Playing in a grand final with him is definitely something I didn’t expect at the start of the year or even three weeks ago when I was named as an emergency, so it’s crazy how quickly things can change and playing with him will just top it all off.”

“It would mean a lot to me,” Lincoln added.

“You don’t get to play in grand finals often and to share it with my brother on the biggest stage and hopefully win would be awesome and something that I’m not going to take for granted and won’t ever forget.”

Lincoln Martignago in action for East Fremantle’s Colts. Credit: Peter Keleman

AFL Under-16s All-Australian Aiden produced a Colts debut for the ages in the final home-and-away round against Swan Districts to go a long way to cementing his finals spot.

The younger of the Martignago siblings amassed 37 disposals, six inside 50s and booted three goals.

His performance was all the more remarkable given he was originally an emergency and only found out he was required to play 90 minutes before the game.

It came alongside older brother Lincoln, who tallied 32, six inside 50s and a goal of his own in game that both brothers described as “surreal”.

“It was a bit of weird one because I was named as an emergency and only found out I was playing an hour and a half before the game,” Aiden reflected.

“I didn’t really expect much but then to play how both of us did and just jelling with each other all day was surreal.

“We have played together before back when I was in Year 4 and he was Year 6 for two games but more recently only last year, in Linc’s last year of school, we got to play the whole of the PSA season together for Wesley College where we finished 2nd and almost won the Alcock Cup which I thought was going to be the last time I was going to play with him.”

“It was pretty surreal,” Lincoln said.

“We grew up together and trained together our whole lives and to be able to play with him at a high level in a game that we needed to win late in the year to finish top of the table was pretty special.”

Aiden Martignago starred in WA’s drought-breaking 16s title. Credit: AFL Photos

After featuring in East Fremantle’s undefeated CTF WAFL Futures campaign, Aiden was a key player in WA’s first AFL Under-16s Championship title since 2017.

The Fremantle Next Generation Academy talent averaged 22.3 disposals, six clearances and four tackles per game to go with two goals, playing a mix of midfield and forward.

“It was a great experience and to win the carnival and then get named in the All-Australian Team was a real honour.

“I’m thankful to the State 16s coaches and our East Fremantle Futures coach Luke Wilson for helping me with everything throughout the year and then to also do it with Troy Warner, Jayke Taylor and Jack Holland who I’ve grown up with and are my best mates was also such a crazy thing.”

Lincoln couldn’t be prouder of his younger brother’s achievements already this year.

“I’m super proud and it’s a great reward for his hard work,” he said.

“He puts in a lot of time behind the scenes to work on his game and is very disciplined with his recovery, diet, and extras outside of training, so it was also rewarding for me to see him succeed.”

Lincoln admitted his start to the season didn’t go to plan but after a stint in the WAFL Reserves and training with the senior squad, things turned around in the back half of the year.

“It’s been a bit of a roller coaster to be honest,” he said.

“I put a lot of work in the off-season and feel I wasn’t getting rewarded as much as I would’ve liked in games early in the year.

“My start to the year wasn’t what I was hoping it to be but then moved up into the Reserves early in the year and played and trained with the senior boys for majority of the year which I think has helped my overall game, learning from some of those players and coaches.”

Aiden Martignago will play in a grand final in just his third Colts game. Credit: Peter Keleman

As for what makes this Sharks team so special after claiming the minor premiership and earning direct entry into Sunday’s Grand Final after defeating reigning champs Claremont in the Second Semi Final.

“I think just the maturity and connection of the group,” Lincoln explained.

“We obviously have a lot of talent in the team and a really great group of boys and that’s shown throughout the year.

“The boys have also bought into what we wanted to achieve this year as a group and what we wanted to get out of this year with extras on and off the field.

“Even the staff too they’ve been unreal. We have great coaches and support staff that are really helpful and they put in a lot of time behind the scenes to help us win games and also help make us better individually.”