Tiger Dustin Martin returns to training at Punt Road after looking like leaving at one stageby: Jon Ralph
From: Herald Sun November 11, 2013 4:54PM
DUSTIN Martin has put the repeated controversies of past pre-seasons behind him to return fit and focused for his fifth summer at Richmond.
Martin endured yet another pre-season of turmoil, considering his future with a public tour of Greater Western Sydney's facilities and pondering a shift to Essendon.
Yet he eventually re-signed on a two-year deal, the club and those close to him say he is in terrific shape physically and mentally.
The fifth-year player returned early for his first session at Punt Road yesterday and joined the 1-4 year players.
In 2011 he was given a rocket by coach Damien Hardwick after being "unfit" for a Botanic Gardens time trial, and last summer the club queried his off-field habits.
But after resolving the recent contract impasse, the 22-year-old is ready to build upon a season in which he finished second in the Jack Dyer Medal.
While he eased into training yesterday, the Tigers believe he will again build on a tank that has been a work in progress throughout his career.
Richmond development coach Mark Williams took yesterday's session but is expected to be lost to St Kilda by early next week.
The Tigers are officially saying they will consider his position if he is appointed as St Kilda senior coach, but no one expects them to hold Williams.
While the Tigers could replace Williams his departure would be a blow for Martin, with the Port Adelaide premiership coach forging close ties with the Richmond ball winner.
"Our family's been really close with him. He's come over every week, enjoyed spending time with my kids and wife, and having dinner with us," Williams said recently.
"He had 55 shots on goal (in 2013), and midfielders don't usually have that, so that's brilliant. He also had the second most possessions for us and, something that people wouldn't realise, he was No. 2 in the AFL for score involvements. So, he's touched the ball somewhere in us scoring, the second most in the whole AFL, which is just unbelievable."
Richmond has a relatively light injury list, with Reece Conca (hamstring), exciting forward Liam McBean (ankle) and Matt Dea (back stress fracture) all forced to ease into the pre-season.
The Tigers will take another hard-bodied midfielder at pick 12 in the national draft after recent success with Brandon Ellis, Conca, Martin and last year's revelation Nick Vlastuin.
The Herald Sun phantom draft linked Sandringham Dragons 183m midfielder Christian Salem to the Tigers, with the left-footer's playing style compared to Sydney's Dan Hannebery
http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/tiger-dustin-martin-returns-to-training-at-punt-road-after-looking-like-leaving-at-one-stage/story-fndv8t7m-1226757909277
