Tigers draft tough nut Scott Gullan | Herald Sun November 26, 2009 8:13PM IT'S fair to say Richmond didn’t have to look far to work out if No.3 pick Dustin Martin would be tough.
If you met his father, Shane, you'd know why. Think tattoos and lots of them covering most of his body. He shares one with his son, it reads: 'Live Free. Die Free'.
"Me and Dad got it and it is just kind of a saying that we came up with together," Dustin, who has it in large writing on his stomach, explained.
"He's been a great support, as has all my family been. They have been a big part of getting me here tonight.”
The boy from Castlemaine has been tipped to go at No.3 for some time and it was confirmed a week ago when he got a visit from the Tigers recruiting boss Francis Jackson.
"It has been a long wait since draft camp, so it is good to get it over with," Martin said.
"People were telling me and I was reading it in the paper, but about a week ago Richmond came down to Bendigo and took us out for lunch.
"They told me they were going to take me with their first pick and it was a bit of a relief."
Martin is described as an attacking onballer with great balance and ball-winning ability, proficient on both sides of the body.
He averaged more than 24 disposals in the TAC Cup with the Bendigo Pioneers and earned All-Australian honours at the national championships.
Dare we say it, but he's been favourably compared with Joel Selwood, who came out of Bendigo three years ago in the first round and turned out to be one of the best young players ever.
Martin's appetite to be an AFL footballer has driven him since he decided to leave school in year nine and move to Sydney where he worked with his father.
All he had thought about for as long as he can remember is hearing his name read out at the AFl Draft.
Over the past month he has followed a training program given to him by his manager Ricky Nixon to give himself the best chance possible to play in Round 1 next year.
"My manager Ricky Nixon gave me a program and I think it was from Richmond," Martin said.
"They gave me a bit of a program so I have just been following that and trying to be as fit as I can leading into it.
“I can't wait to get to training and get as fit as I can and hopefully if I work hard I can get there in Round 1.
"If I keep working hard, treat my body right, work as hard as I can then we'll see what happens."
The 18-year-old is excited that he will be part of a new breed at Punt Rd with the Tigers having a new coaching staff and 10 picks in the draft.
"There will be a lot of youth there so it will be great to have a lot of young blokes around and new coaches," Martin said. "I can't wait."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-draft-tough-nut/story-e6frf9jf-1225804333762
