Player Watch #4: Dustin Martin

[TigerImposter]

Who's the biggest flog in the industry? I find it hard to go past Stevo personally.

Gaaaaarrrry

 

[Tiger_4_Life]

Tim Watson has said we can take it to the vault that dusty will not sign up til the end of the year.



Therefore, signing will be imminent

 

[Achilles Heel]

Really, then why did the RFC media manager pull Dusty out as soon as questions turned to the contract. If the club wanted the media to bully Dusty don't you think they media manager would've just stood there twiddling her thumbs.

Precisely, and to be honest I thought chocco handled it well

 

[Achilles Heel]

I think this is a fair call from K.B.....


https://www.sen.com.au/news/2017/03/08/kbs-take-or-forget-dusty-tigers-need-to-worry-about-winning/

Has he apologised to dusty yet?

But he is spot on, if we don't come out of the blocks winning, there will be a bigger story

 

[prodigy]

Tim Watson has said we can take it to the vault that dusty will not sign up til the end of the year.



Therefore, signing will be imminent

Hate that bastard.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[theflea]

Caro is as pro-Richmond as Robbo was pro-Hird.
Fact!
I would be worried.
Kudos to Choco for calling it like it is.

She also has a double edged sword. Anything she perceives as bad or wrong she turns on us.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

Sometimes its just timing...lol Collingwood

Wells & Mayne was the last straw.

 

[NaturalDisaster]

Not the issue. It is whether his negative view on the club will influence Dusty.

Dusty isn't 5 years old, he can think for himself.

 

[Tiger_Of_Old]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...s/news-story/c20b6fa0ac59d984f5724c34449e8200

Dustin Martin is a genuine guy who’s just misunderstood, writes Mark Williams
MARK WILLIAMS, Herald Sun
March 9, 2017 6:00pm
Subscriber only
EVERY morning before a Richmond home game I meet Dustin Martin at the same Elwood cafe.

Each time, after breakfast, we end up on the street outside playing kick-to-kick with the footy-mad owner. It sounds crazy, but it’s true.

It also doesn’t sound like the sort of guy who would “storm off” or “run away” does it?

That’s because it isn’t and that’s because Dustin doesn’t.

MARK WILLIAMS: MEDIA TREATMENT OF DUSTY UNFAIR

MARK ROBINSON: CONTRACT CIRCUS NOT IN MARTIN’S INTERESTS

MARTIN’S CONTRACT: TIGERS CONFIDENT DUSTY WILL STAY

What we’ve seen this week is symptomatic of Dustin’s career. It’s a sensationalist portrayal of what really happened and again he’s been put in a box and people judge him by that.

Dustin, on his day off, gave his time to do me a favour at the launch of my new Sherrin Precision football at the MCG.

He was anxious about the media asking him about his contract because he just doesn’t want to talk about it.

I know the media are trying to do their job, but I’m not sure what they’re trying to find because he’s not going to sign or make a decision in the next minute or the next month, so why bother?

I first met Dustin Martin five years ago. He was late and a little out of shape at Richmond’s first training session after the Christmas break.

Dustin Martin and Mark Williams share a close bond.
Back then he was certainly at the crossroads. He could have gone off the tracks and this blossoming footy career we’re now witnessing would never have happened.

There were serious discussions as to whether this guy was going to make it. Was he the real thing or would he just be another young player to never reach his potential?

It’s hard to imagine how a 52-year-old bloke would be equipped to look after a young bloke who’s a bit of a tearaway, albeit with enormous talent, but that’s what Damien Hardwick and the club wanted.

Would we connect? Pretty quickly we knew it wasn’t simply a manufactured relationship, but one based on respect, communication and trust.

Like all good relationships, they come with time. It’s not a 9-5 job — it’s about showing you care and trying to understand the person.

I think the number one thing was to invite him into my home where I’ve got five kids and we all sit around the dinner table with my wife, Pauline, cooking meals.

The kids knew he was an important player, but because they’d grown up around football they just treated him like one of their brothers.

Dustin Martin has worked hard to reach his potential, says Mark Williams. Picture: Michael Klein
They would spend hours playing pool, table tennis, darts and even quoits because Dustin’s into everything.

He just loves being part of a group and not being by himself. I still think he needs to work on his pool game, but he’s got me at table tennis.

We’d go ten pin bowling. Imagine Dustin bowling with a group of people and all of them hanging it on each other over the score and my kids trying to put him off and him laughing.

You look at the tattoos and the hair and people judge by the cover, but you need to dig a bit deeper to find the real him.

My darling little daughter Isabelle adores him and is always hugging him. Dustin promises one day he’s going to get a little butterfly tattoo, but she’s monitoring his ink and she can’t see any butterflies. He says one day.

Dustin has come around to our house once a week for the last four years. He does go AWOL, if you like, over the off-season and I’m continually texting him while he’s away.

That can be tough because he’s probably lost or broken 10 phones in my time knowing him. He has a bit of trouble with that.

All we need to do is check in with each other to know he’s OK. I don’t try to box him in with too many rules, but he likes knowing that someone is actively interested in his welfare.

That Japanese restaurant incident at the end of 2015 was just so unfortunate. I’m a person who doesn’t smoke or drink and if I stand up for Dustin it’s because I believe in him.

He’s not a saint and he makes some bad decisions like everyone else. Over the years I’ve seen countless people drink and get into situations they wouldn’t want to.

Dustin would agree it wasn’t perfect him, but he is an understanding, quiet and shy person who doesn’t confront people at all.

My family and I have a special relationship with him, along with his mum, Kathy, his aunties and his dad, Shane.

Martin with his trademark fend off last year. Picture: Getty Images
His dad calls me from New Zealand and talks to me about how he’s going. His dad just wants the best for him and is always so proud of him and really misses going to watch him because he was always there.

When you’re a footballer, you’re on the ground and there’s 100,000 there, but you’re actually only playing for two or three special people every time. You know where they sit, you might glance at them and you’re trying to make them proud and that’s what Dustin does.

Some players you look at and think ‘yeah, he’s lucky to play AFL’. Dustin’s form isn’t based on luck.

Most people would assume otherwise with his casual demeanour and all those tatts, but he spends hours and hours working on his game. If he can’t do something someone else can, he works ferociously on it.

We’ve been working on his future after football, too. He’s come a long way with his keynote speaking and he has a presentation with videos and photos about his journey and making choices in life.

Mark Williams working with Martin at training. Picture:Wayne Ludbey
He presents at Cauldfield Grammar and TAC Cup teams and the students and players love him.

He’s doing his Certificate IV in business with a view to getting into the transport industry and it’s thrilling to see someone who didn’t finish high school want to go back and study and put himself to the test.

Dustin is terrific guy who’s very much misunderstood. He doesn’t really care about changing it, though, he is what he is and only those close to him know that.

He allows me and my family to understand him. Being in his inner sanctum is a wonderful thing.

He had an upbringing where he had to work for everything. He played footy at an early age against men, left school early and been thrown into work early.

It’s easy to assume you won’t become a champion player with that background, but against all odds he’s survived and flourished.

 

[Tiger Toffee]

So Essendon pulled Diane Shortsteppel out of an interview on Nova FM this morning, will the media be making a huge song and dance about that as they did with Dusty being pulled out by the RFC media manager, i doubt it.

Well Tim, Mark, Jon, Stevo, schmook, ox, gary etc i'm waiting for an answer and i know you will read this.

 

[Tiger Toffee]

Tim Watson has said we can take it to the vault that dusty will not sign up til the end of the year.



Therefore, signing will be imminent

Well then Timmy you and the rest of your cronies don't need to mention it then until the end of the year, but something tells me your obsessed by it and will keep reminding us of the fact, dickhead.

 

[Helen Wheels]

Dustin Martin is a genuine guy who’s just misunderstood, writes Mark Williams
MARK WILLIAMS, Herald Sun
March 9, 2017 6:00pm

Hold the front page ... HUN Prints Positive Article on Dustin Martin.

Trying to square up for the hatchet job they did on him, courtesy of the lovely Rita?

EDIT: Their headline is a bit sneaky/snaky at the same time.

 

[Nostradumbass]

Tim Watson has said we can take it to the vault that dusty will not sign up til the end of the year.



Therefore, signing will be imminent

Timmy said the other day he know about Essendons Underworld dealings before it broke. I Wonder if it was a club other than the drug cheats would be have said nothing? Stupid campaigner.

 

[This Is Anfield]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...s/news-story/c20b6fa0ac59d984f5724c34449e8200

Dustin Martin is a genuine guy who’s just misunderstood, writes Mark Williams
MARK WILLIAMS, Herald Sun
March 9, 2017 6:00pm
Subscriber only
EVERY morning before a Richmond home game I meet Dustin Martin at the same Elwood cafe.

Each time, after breakfast, we end up on the street outside playing kick-to-kick with the footy-mad owner. It sounds crazy, but it’s true.

It also doesn’t sound like the sort of guy who would “storm off” or “run away” does it?

That’s because it isn’t and that’s because Dustin doesn’t.

MARK WILLIAMS: MEDIA TREATMENT OF DUSTY UNFAIR

MARK ROBINSON: CONTRACT CIRCUS NOT IN MARTIN’S INTERESTS

MARTIN’S CONTRACT: TIGERS CONFIDENT DUSTY WILL STAY

What we’ve seen this week is symptomatic of Dustin’s career. It’s a sensationalist portrayal of what really happened and again he’s been put in a box and people judge him by that.

Dustin, on his day off, gave his time to do me a favour at the launch of my new Sherrin Precision football at the MCG.

He was anxious about the media asking him about his contract because he just doesn’t want to talk about it.

I know the media are trying to do their job, but I’m not sure what they’re trying to find because he’s not going to sign or make a decision in the next minute or the next month, so why bother?

I first met Dustin Martin five years ago. He was late and a little out of shape at Richmond’s first training session after the Christmas break.

Dustin Martin and Mark Williams share a close bond.
Back then he was certainly at the crossroads. He could have gone off the tracks and this blossoming footy career we’re now witnessing would never have happened.

There were serious discussions as to whether this guy was going to make it. Was he the real thing or would he just be another young player to never reach his potential?

It’s hard to imagine how a 52-year-old bloke would be equipped to look after a young bloke who’s a bit of a tearaway, albeit with enormous talent, but that’s what Damien Hardwick and the club wanted.

Would we connect? Pretty quickly we knew it wasn’t simply a manufactured relationship, but one based on respect, communication and trust.

Like all good relationships, they come with time. It’s not a 9-5 job — it’s about showing you care and trying to understand the person.

I think the number one thing was to invite him into my home where I’ve got five kids and we all sit around the dinner table with my wife, Pauline, cooking meals.

The kids knew he was an important player, but because they’d grown up around football they just treated him like one of their brothers.

Dustin Martin has worked hard to reach his potential, says Mark Williams. Picture: Michael Klein
They would spend hours playing pool, table tennis, darts and even quoits because Dustin’s into everything.

He just loves being part of a group and not being by himself. I still think he needs to work on his pool game, but he’s got me at table tennis.

We’d go ten pin bowling. Imagine Dustin bowling with a group of people and all of them hanging it on each other over the score and my kids trying to put him off and him laughing.

You look at the tattoos and the hair and people judge by the cover, but you need to dig a bit deeper to find the real him.

My darling little daughter Isabelle adores him and is always hugging him. Dustin promises one day he’s going to get a little butterfly tattoo, but she’s monitoring his ink and she can’t see any butterflies. He says one day.

Dustin has come around to our house once a week for the last four years. He does go AWOL, if you like, over the off-season and I’m continually texting him while he’s away.

That can be tough because he’s probably lost or broken 10 phones in my time knowing him. He has a bit of trouble with that.

All we need to do is check in with each other to know he’s OK. I don’t try to box him in with too many rules, but he likes knowing that someone is actively interested in his welfare.

That Japanese restaurant incident at the end of 2015 was just so unfortunate. I’m a person who doesn’t smoke or drink and if I stand up for Dustin it’s because I believe in him.

He’s not a saint and he makes some bad decisions like everyone else. Over the years I’ve seen countless people drink and get into situations they wouldn’t want to.

Dustin would agree it wasn’t perfect him, but he is an understanding, quiet and shy person who doesn’t confront people at all.

My family and I have a special relationship with him, along with his mum, Kathy, his aunties and his dad, Shane.

Martin with his trademark fend off last year. Picture: Getty Images
His dad calls me from New Zealand and talks to me about how he’s going. His dad just wants the best for him and is always so proud of him and really misses going to watch him because he was always there.

When you’re a footballer, you’re on the ground and there’s 100,000 there, but you’re actually only playing for two or three special people every time. You know where they sit, you might glance at them and you’re trying to make them proud and that’s what Dustin does.

Some players you look at and think ‘yeah, he’s lucky to play AFL’. Dustin’s form isn’t based on luck.

Most people would assume otherwise with his casual demeanour and all those tatts, but he spends hours and hours working on his game. If he can’t do something someone else can, he works ferociously on it.

We’ve been working on his future after football, too. He’s come a long way with his keynote speaking and he has a presentation with videos and photos about his journey and making choices in life.

Mark Williams working with Martin at training. Picture:Wayne Ludbey
He presents at Cauldfield Grammar and TAC Cup teams and the students and players love him.

He’s doing his Certificate IV in business with a view to getting into the transport industry and it’s thrilling to see someone who didn’t finish high school want to go back and study and put himself to the test.

Dustin is terrific guy who’s very much misunderstood. He doesn’t really care about changing it, though, he is what he is and only those close to him know that.

He allows me and my family to understand him. Being in his inner sanctum is a wonderful thing.

He had an upbringing where he had to work for everything. He played footy at an early age against men, left school early and been thrown into work early.

It’s easy to assume you won’t become a champion player with that background, but against all odds he’s survived and flourished.

Thanks for that...really good read.

 

[THE_GUN]

All good in theory but remember the last time we had such bounty? 2004, 5 top 20 picks IIRC. None of them play for us anymore, and we really only got something from one of them... The #1 pick is the only one we didnt **** up.

Francis Jackson !!!

 

[THE_GUN]

not when its not an open interview. Dusty was there with a specific purpose, and understandably got angry/frustrated at the de-railing towards his contract.

ofc they're going to ask but there's a time and a place for it

Disagree!!

Dusty is there to use his brand to promote the Sherin football

His brand is created due to his football ability

His football ability is tied to where he plays and his contract

When you put yourself up you need to be available for all questions, You cant just pick the good and ignore what doesn't suit you

 

[Nostradumbass]

Funny how it only comes out now that the AFL allegedly blocked his move to GWS. Bollocks.

 

[Ned_Flanders]

Funny how it only comes out now that the AFL allegedly blocked his move to GWS. Bollocks.

Yep, as believable as his hair

 

[prodigy]

Disagree!!

Dusty is there to use his brand to promote the Sherin football

His brand is created due to his football ability

His football ability is tied to where he plays and his contract

When you put yourself up you need to be available for all questions, You cant just pick the good and ignore what doesn't suit you

If you get asked the same question 3-4 times he had every right to walk off. He is there to promote a product with a friend.
He was on his day off, it wasn't official club business.
He didn't do anything wrong, others would handle it differently because they may be comfortable in doing so, but there was nothing wrong in the way he dealt with it.

"I'm going to leave it up to the club and my manager to work through"

That's all he needed to say, that's all he did say.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Calcium Man]

Funny how it only comes out now that the AFL allegedly blocked his move to GWS. Bollocks.

Nah sounds believable. I mean it clear from the AFL's reactive decisions on academies and GWS' salary cap they were aware of the monster they created back in 2013 and didn't want to add further fuel to the fire.

 

[Sir_Loin]

Why do GWS feel the need to comment about it now?

 

[Nostradumbass]

Why do GWS feel the need to comment about it now?

To make it look like they're a seperate entity, not the AFL. Everyone knows the AFL are pulling the strings. Whether he wanted to go or not I always thought he didn't.

 

[Noseybonk]

Why do GWS feel the need to comment about it now?

To dispell fake news.

 

[Sir_Loin]

To make it look like they're a seperate entity, not the AFL. Everyone knows the AFL are pulling the strings. Whether he wanted to go or not I always thought he didn't.

I don't disagree with you at all but why now? They've already made that comment long ago what's prompted them to make it again now?

 

[Sir_Loin]

To dispell fake news.

What fake news? I haven't seen anything reported publicly re recent Martin news and linking that to any rumoured shenanigans re GWS/AFL and Carr. Makes me highly suspicious that something's coming