Martin desperate to bare teethrichmondfc.com.au
By Mic Cullen | Mon 30 November, 2009DUSTIN Martin was taken by Richmond at number three in Thursday's NAB AFL Draft, but still looked a little disappointed on Sunday morning when he turned up at Punt Rd in his new black and gold polo shirt.
The reason? He'd just been told that there was no training, it was just a meet and greet.
The 18-year-old is a ferocious worker who can't wait to begin his AFL career, but he was assured by a club official that by the time the Christmas break arrived, he'd be rapt to have some time off.
Martin told a media conference a little later on that he was hanging out to get started with his new club.
"I've had a look around and it looks pretty good - I just can't wait," he said.
"I met the coach on Thursday night, and I've met a few of the other boys who got picked up, too.
"I just can't wait to get out and start training."
Martin is an attacking midfielder with a terrific ability to win his own ball and use it off either side of his body.
He averaged 21 possessions per game for Vic Country at the NAB AFL U18 Championships, was made All-Australian and averaged 25 disposals (nine contested) in the TAC Cup.
At draft camp he was second in both the beep test (14.1) and the 20m sprint, and equal second in the kicking test.
He said he knew about a week before the draft the Tigers were going to take him with their first pick.
"They had a few mock drafts and stuff like that, but about a week before the draft, Francis (Jackson, recruiting manager), and the recruiting team came to Bendigo.
"We went and played some golf and had some lunch, and they told me they were going to take with their first pick.
"That was a big relief - it made it a bit easier going to the draft."
The Tigers finished 15th last season, and new coach Damien Hardwick has swept the place out, allowing the Tigers to recruit seven new faces in the draft.
That means plenty of opportunity for the new kids, and Martin said he was hoping to impress enough over the pre-season to get a start in round one.
"Definitely - I just want to get out on the track and listen to the coaches and my teammates and do what I've got to do, and we'll see what happens.
"I think they picked up seven players, so we're all in the same boat.
"We're building new facilities, there's new coaches - it's going to be really good, I can't wait."
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