Cats recruit Jack Martin will make his AFL debut in the blue and white hoops against his former club this weekend.

Martin, 30, has been named in Geelong's side to face Gold Coast in front of his new home crowd on Saturday afternoon.

The Yawuru and Yamatji man arrived at the Cats in November after being delisted by Carlton following an injury-impacted tenure at the Blues, which allowed just three senior appearances in 2024.

Calf issues delayed his start to 2025, and after weeks being 'managed' by the Cats returned via the club's VFL outfit in the last fortnight.

Martin had 18 touches in his first VFL match for the year before collecting 22 disposals and four score involvements in Geelong's loss to Williamstown last weekend.

He's been named on the bench for Geelong this weekend.

"We are really excited about the prospect of bringing Jack into our football club, he is an experienced player and a quality person," Geelong football general manager Andrew Mackie said on his signing last year.

Landing at the Suns as their first 2012 mini-draft pick, Martin played 97 AFL games for the Queensland club before joining Carlton ahead of the 2020 season.

Injuries similarly plagued his earlier years in the top level.

Martin made 52 appearances across five season at the Blues, including an inspiring display in their 2023 elimination final win over Sydney, which also saw him handed a two-match ban, downgraded to a single week, and a return in the club's preliminary final.

The first final against the Swans was Martin's September debut after a decade in the competition.

At the Blues, Zac Williams is set to return from a calf injury suffered against the Cats in late April.

The Blues will look to advance into touching distance with the top eight coming out of the bye.

Carlton come up against Essendon at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

Williams has been named in the starting side as one of five inclusions into the squad.