2013 Player Profile: Dustin Martin

[KoopKicka]

not faling for the hype again this year. If he finally breaks out i will upgrade to him but definitely not starting with him

+1

[Adamant]

I really reckon Dusty will push a 90-95 avg this year.
Would be interesting to see his first half v second half average per game. He's always 50-60 at halftime and finishes with 80-odd....with another pre-season under his belt, he should definitely improve.

[elephants]

Upgrade target...

[Alka]

Stayed away this year, which turned out to be a wise move.

I think in a young and improving Tigers side it's just a matter of time before he breaks out... and I think that year could be 2013. Locked in.

[Spinking]

I'm still keen. I like the way he goes about it, and wasnt overly disappointed by his output. Would want him to improve, which I believe he can.

[Heppell21]

Dusty v Zaha....

Zaha for me

[Torpedo10]

Gotta consider him. I think he could be a handy pickup if he starts focusing on what is needed of him.

[Capper]

The DPP gives him the extra chance to jump in my team but i think i might wait to see what he needs to average to BE first. They had a tough opening couple of rounds last year but didnt explode like he was meant to after that.

Wait'n'see at this stage

[Shihan7]

Gonna play it safe and look at him as an upgrade.

[Mr.Craig]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/150658/default.aspx

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick says the Tigers' 21-year-old emerging star Dustin Martin needs to find something productive outside of football to keep him occupied, and the club is working with him to make that happen.
 
Hardwick said Martin was very good in sticking to the structure a football season provided but struggled to maintain discipline during the off-season.  "The off-season is the area where we have got to help him with, and he needs to find something outside of footy to keep him interested," Hardwick told SEN radio on Friday.
 
Hardwick emphasised that Martin was a good person with a solid long-term future at the Tigers, but the club was working with him to ensure he did not have a lot of time on his hands when football stopped.
 
Martin moved out of club president Gary March's home last year, and Hardwick said moving back was not the answer.
 
"The reality of the situation is that he has got to learn to manage himself and he has done that reasonably well, moved out midway through last year and bought himself a nice house, and he's got to learn life skills like a number of our younger players," Hardwick said.

[Bombers Suck]

Lose cannon thats gonna explode this year.. Fends all year round !!!

[Football Factory]

Im thinking with Knights playing high half forward, Martin will play mainly in the midfield. Is in my Fanplanner team at the moment, will watch him in the Nab to see what role he will be playing.

[Toga]

Im thinking with Knights playing high half forward, Martin will play mainly in the midfield. Is in my Fanplanner team at the moment, will watch him in the Nab to see what role he will be playing.

+1 and recruiting edwards (lol) means he will push further up field away from that deep forward pocket role he sometimes gets put in... should see more midfield time after another pre season and after richmond's recruitments.

virtually locked for me.

[Shihan7]

Im thinking with Knights playing high half forward, Martin will play mainly in the midfield. Is in my Fanplanner team at the moment, will watch him in the Nab to see what role he will be playing.

Good point, really not sure if I'll start him though :-\

[Football Factory]

Choco has Martin in 'extraordinary' shape





WAYWARD midfielder Dustin Martin is in "extraordinary" form on the training track after responding to the mentoring of new Richmond assistant coach Mark Williams.

Martin, who has made headlines in his short career for his off-field behaviour â€" and was suspended this year after missing a training session in July - has become a focus for Williams in his new role.

And according to teammate Bachar Houli, Williams' impression on the 21-year-old midfielder has been immediate and nothing short of stunning.

"He's there for a reason for our development in terms of the younger kids and his progress is very positive," Houli said on Monday.

"The way Dustin is going about his training these days is extraordinary.

"He's right up there with his fitness, skills, he's becoming more vocal on the track as well.

"With this short period of time, Dustin's come a long way and I've no doubt that's going to turn into good footy once the season begins."

Martin was suspended for two matches after it was revealed he took prescription sleeping medication and missed a training session. The incident ended the career of his close friend Daniel Connors who had a history of off-field incidents during his time at the club.

Houli said Williams' focus was not isolated to Martin with the former senior coach taking time on the club's recent training camp in Cairns to get to know his new players.

"He's obviously taken a few players, especially younger players, under his wing like Dustin and Reece Conca," he said.

"He's definitely going to show some leadership to them and be I guess a mentor to them as well.

"He's the questions man. He's full of questions, and it's great because it really shows he's getting to know everyone around the club.

"A typical example is in the bus on the way to the airport from Port Douglas to Cairns, he took each individual for five minutes and asked them questions.

"It just shows he's really into the development of our group."

The Tigers spent nine days in far North Queensland, doing team-bonding exercises that included an 'Amazing Race' style competition.

Houli said the camp was tough but gave the Tigers a solid mix of team bonding and hard training.

"The conditions were quite warm and the humidity was very challenging but it was a great balance of the physical aspects and the mental," he said.

"The first four days we trained extremely hard in those conditions through skills and weights and the next four days were the 'Amazing Race' part.

"I was part of the winning team, which was good, and in terms of the physical bit, I was up there. But with all the trivia questions, I was no good.

"It was good to have a balance and it just shows you that team work is very important."



http://www.afl.com.au/news/2012-12-10/choco-has-martin-in-extraordinary-shape