Dustin Martin reveals Tigers Zoom conference ‘tight a***’ in AFL season lockdownNews.com.au
26 May 2020Richmond superstar Dustin Martin is one of the lucky ones — life in isolation agrees with him.
The Tigers premiership hero has thrived in recent weeks, getting his body and mind prepared for the highly anticipated return of the 2020 AFL season on June 11.
Martin says he’s adapted to training in isolation at home and has even made changes to his regular mental health meditation and journaling routine.
The health of his mind and body have been boosted by regular weekly Zoom video conferences with former teammates ever since the AFL season was suspended in March.
Martin has told news.com.au in his role as an ambassador for the launch of the new Bonds’ X-Temp range, he has been happy to spend more time on his own in recent months — but has also enjoyed catch-ups with former teammates, including Nathan Foley, Chris Newman, Brett Deledio, Shaun Grigg, Troy Chaplin and Alex Rance.
The weekly chats were far from a well-oiled machine, Martin says, with Foley’s habit of penny-pinching regularly derailing the friendly catch-ups.
“Once a week I jumped on a Zoom call with some old teammates — we’re all still really close,” Martin said.
“Nathan Foley was the host and he was too much of a tight a*** to get the upgrade, so every 20 minutes we got cut off and had to re-join the chat.
“It wasn’t awkward at all, it was actually very funny.”
Despite the group clearly enjoying the ease of catching up from the comfort of their own loungerooms, Martin admits he is looking forward catching up with the former teammates in person once coronavirus restrictions are eased in June.
He says the team won’t keep up the weekly sessions once football returns and will instead make an effort to catch up in person when the AFL allows players to see friends again.
The video calls have given Martin some comic relieve, but he has otherwise flourished during self isolation.
“I have my own gym set up at home. You are allowed to train with one other person so I’ve been doing that, as well at the local footy oval,” he says of his isolation training program.
“I’ve been making the most of the time off to slow down a bit. Taking walks without the phone, training and keeping fit.”
When asked what he will miss most about his old daily life while living under the AFL’s strict biosecurity protocols, Martin said: “I spend a lot of time on my own anyway so it doesn’t affect me too much.
“Probably just being with friends and hanging out.”
Martin on Monday helped launch the new range of Bonds X-Temp X-Factor underwear which coincided with the re-opening of Bonds stores across the country.
The campaign features incredible shots of Martin sprinting on the running track at Sydney Olympic Park while dragging behind a mini-parachute.
“It’s a great time to be launching a Bonds campaign as we start to come out of isolation,
Martin said.
“Bonds are opening stores around Australia from Monday and we’re back at training so it’s a really positive time after being in lockdown.
“I’ve developed a strong relationship with Bonds, the X Temp shoot was perfect for me, we always collaborate on the campaign approach and I enjoy that part of the process.
“Shooting Bonds X-Temp campaign was different than a studio shoot, I enjoyed working on the track with the sprint parachute, it was a serious work out, I’m happy with how it turned out. “
Martin returned to official team training with Richmond on Monday.
Boasting an experienced group, many of whom have featured in six of the last seven finals series, Richmond’s players knew the high standards expected of them from coach Damien Hardwick while in lockdown.
“Our older guys are good at checking in on the younger guys,” Martin said.
“It wasn’t over the top, just every now and then to ensure everyone’s fine.
“(Hardwick) has great trust in the group, which we’ve built over the years, so all the boys attacked their training really well.”
https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/dustin-martin-reveals-tigers-zoom-conference-tight-a-in-afl-season-lockdown/news-story/acb84cf94f7303c4080284ceb37abb46
