Richmond's Dustin Martin is maturing before our eyesWayne Carey
The Age
16 June 2016Amid the gloom of Richmond's season, one man is finally realising his potential.
As footballers and as people we all mature at different rates; from personal experience, some of us take a lot longer than others. But with maturity, Dustin Martin has elevated his game to new heights – and that's saying something for a player who has already finished in the top-three of Richmond's past three best-and-fairests.
It's been well-documented the challenges he's faced off the field and his upbringing would likely have been different to many players in the AFL.
But that's also one of the things that makes our game great – any number of shapes, sizes and personalities make up a football club and can succeed.
We as footy followers certainly have a fascination with the man known as "Dusty". Covered in tattoos, he immediately attracts attention. Shy and softly spoken, he's intriguing because we don't know a lot about him and what makes him tick.
With that interest comes challenges and having your every move under a microscope can be difficult to cope with. The transition from young player to public figure is not easy and that's something Dustin might have grappled with.
Even this year he's been in the spotlight off the field, but speaking to those at Richmond they could not be more impressed with the changes he's made away from the game.
He's grown up in front of us.
Separated from his father, from the outside it seemed Martin went through a flat spot early in the season. In a show of support, the Tigers have said they will allow him extra breaks to travel to New Zealand to see his dad.
Do I think it is right he has to cope with such intense focus on his personal life and family? No I don't. But eventually you realise it's a fact of life at AFL level.
Once you get your head around that the job becomes much easier and Martin's form suggests he's learning to deal with the pressure. When you understand as a footballer you'll be a person of interest for the rest of your life it can get to a stage where you feel more comfortable in your own skin.
Damien Hardwick, Trent Cotchin and particularly Mark Williams should be congratulated on moulding and managing Martin to this point – not just as a footballer, but as a person.
It wasn't that long ago Martin almost left Richmond when he was coming out of contract. Young and ill-advised, he quickly learned the club is always bigger than the individual.
It was another important wake-up call and the first time Martin really understood he needed to put his head down and bum up if he wanted to make the most of his talent.
Fast forward to 2016, and he's now the most dynamic and damaging player at the Tigers. Along with Patrick Dangerfield and Buddy Franklin, Martin is one of the most exciting players in the league to watch.
I'd go so far as comparing him to Mark Ricciuto. Like "Roo" he's an absolute bull and is almost impossible to tackle. He's more aggressive at the footy than ever, has the best "don't argue" in the game and is relishing his move into the middle.
He can win his own ball, break tackles and then burst clear.
By the same token, Martin's still a real asset up forward given he rarely gets beaten one-on-one. Kick it in his direction and he either breaks even or is having a shot at goal – even the best defenders wouldn't look forward to an afternoon on Martin.
The knock on him in the early part of his career was his tendency to fade-out in the second half of matches, but he appears much fitter and seems to be covering the ground better.
The Tigers have demanded more of him and he's done everything that's been asked.
With that consistency "Dusty" can now be classed as truly elite.
Make no mistake, he'll always be a bit of a lad. But considering where he's come from and what he's been through, his development on and off the field is a credit to the Richmond football club, and most importantly Martin himself.
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