Experienced ruckman Stefan Martin will play his first game for the Western Bulldogs this week.

The 34-year-old joined the Bulldogs over the off-season and has made an immediate impact.

Pat Lipinski revealed to the playing group on Wednesday that Martin will run out in red, white and blue against Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night.

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Dog debut for Stef Martin

The big ruckman will be stepping up against the Pies at the MCG in round one.

“Even though I’ve been around for a while – I feel like I’ve got to prove myself to a bunch of new people which is good for me,” Martin said earlier this month.

“It’s given me a bit of extra energy with a new challenge and trying to prove myself to a whole new club, supporters and players.”

Martin has already played 190 AFL games in a career spanning 13 years at the top level.

He made his debut for Melbourne in 2008, playing 57 games for the Dees, before 133 games for the Brisbane Lions between 2013 and 2020.