TWELVE months ago, Dustin Martin was embarrassed after his coach delivered a pre-season rocket for returning unfit.
"Yeah, it was embarrassing and I thought I let the team down by not coming back as I was expected," Martin said this week.
This year, he finished equal with Brett Deledio in the infamous Tan run, about sixth overall, and says he's never been fitter.
"It's a lot better running around the Tan getting a half-decent time than running last," he said.
He ran with Deledio, one of the fittest at the club. "I didn't see him last year when we ran the Tan the first time ... and this time I ran with him. I've told him I'm going to try to run with him most sessions."
The difference between this pre-season to last was simple: He worked.
"I just ticked all the boxes. I didn't do anything extra, maybe a couple more boxing sessions, but I just did what the club gave me as a program."
Last year he played 89-90kg, he is currently 88kg and wants to be at 87kg.
Noticeably, the 20-year-old has lost puppy fat, replacing it with muscle, meaning the powerfully built midfielder looks leaner, more compact and ripped.
At the Tigers, there are weight loss groups, weight gain groups and a maintenance group. Martin is in the latter group.
"Last year I was in the weight-loss group," he said.
Martin, still just 20, is now fit, happy, single and is house-hunting.
"I've been looking to buy, I've been to a few inspections and hopefully I will buy sometime soon," he said.
It means, after almost two years living at the home of Tigers president Gary March and wife Bev, Martin is ready to take the next step in his life.
It's the same with his footy.
March said Martin had matured and realised the requirements of being an elite athlete.
"It's showed in the way he's turned up to pre-season this year," March said.
"The story last year was that he was fat ... he wasn't fat, he just didn't do any running in the off-season because he was knackered after the season.
"But he's worked hard.
"His diet is 100 per cent better than what it was 18 months ago, too."
Martin is close to March and his wife and two boys, Baily, 15, and Matthew, 12.
"I suppose he's like another son now, and we will miss him," March said.
Asked to describe him, March said: "He's really respectful, driven, really focused on his goals.
"Just a terrific young guy."
Martin fired back: "They feel like family now."
Martin has played 43 of 44 games since his debut in Round 1, 2010.
He kicked 11 goals in his first year and 33 in his second, relishing the role of midfielder/resting forward. He also averaged 22 touches per game in 2011.
As a result, he finished third in the best and fairest behind Trent Cotchin and Deledio.
The accolades were poured on him throughout the season.
At different times, he was compared to Darren Millane, Leigh Matthews, Mark Ricciuto and 1970s powerhouse Sam Kekovich.
He can't remember the Millane article. In fact, he's not aware of exactly who is Millane, the raging bull from Collingwood who died in 1991.
Of Matthews, he smiled: "Yeah, heard of him."
The praise makes him uncomfortable.
"I just listen to the coaches," he said.
"Obviously, the boys had a bit of a muck around with it, a bit of a joke, but I don't like it, I don't want to be known as a big head.
"I've got miles ahead of me just to be half (as good) a player as Leigh Matthews was."
Although the club will build around players such as Martin, Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt, Deledio and Tyrone Vickery, it's all about building a complete list.
"Around here, we're not really about individuals, we're about all of us playing our roles. Twenty-two players who play their roles, do what is expected, is a lot better than having two or three standout players."
Still, it's hard to ignore Martin.
Another article last year revealed the devastating Martin was only behind Hawthorn's Lance Franklin in score involvements. Martin read it - and let it go through to the keeper.
"It had something to do with scoring or something," he said.
"It doesn't bother me. Again, I don't want to get a big head. I don't worry about the individualism, it's all about the team, it's all about the Richmond Football Club."
Martin has two plans for the 2012 season: Help improve the Tigers and help protect teammate Cotchin from taggers.
"That's what I'll be doing, especially in the midfield, help him out, give him the ball, smash into the taggers," he said.
"If we weren't to improve it would be very disappointing."
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-dynamo-dustin-martin-keen-and-fighting-fit-for-2012/story-e6frf9jf-1226197194588
