Dustin Martin Biography

Dustin Martin returns to the Tigers' senior side after a month away from football, tallying 23 disposals, 11 score involvements, 358 metres gained, and two goals in a win over Collingwood at the MCG.

"It was a nice moment to get some reward for the hard work he's put in for himself. We're pleased. He got through. He'll get better again next week. That’s exciting for us. He is an energy guy who brings an enormous amount of spirit to our group. It's just great to have him back," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick.

Tiger Dustin Martin returns to the club for the first time since taking an indefinite break, but there is still no timeframe on his return to the field.

"It was really good to see him. He looks healthy and we're excited that he's back here," teammate Jack Riewoldt told Channel 7.

Dustin Martin returns to Melbourne after spending time away on personal leave, but the Tigers aren't rushing his return.

"We do know is he's in a better space ... but at this stage it's the same as it has been," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says the Tigers will give Dustin Martin all the time he needs away from the club to grieve following the death of his father in December.

"He's had a really tough six months, none tougher than what he's had to deal with, first with the injury then with the loss of his father," Hardwick told Fox Footy's AFL 360.

"He just needs the time to heal. Grief is a thing that it's really like an injury. There's no two ways about it. You have to get some some treatment to make yourself heal and he's just taking the time to do that."

Dustin Martin is in doubt for Richmond's round two clash against the Giants after being granted personal leave by the club.

"He's dealing with a couple of personal issues. He's so important to the fabric of our footy club, we just want to make sure he's OK and he's getting what he needs," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick explained.

Dustin Martin is cleared to return to full-contact training after a steady build-up across the first two months of the pre-season since suffering a season-ending kidney injury against Brisbane last July.

Dustin Martin mourns the death of his father Shane Martin, who passed away this week in New Zealand.

Richmond releases fresh images of a leaner Dustin Martin as he continues his comeback from the serious kidney injury he suffered in the club's round 18 clash with Brisbane.

Martin has lost 10kg after being placed on a fruit diet following his bone-crunching collision with Mitch Robinson and is set to return to training in January.

Dustin Martin is discharged from hospital as he continues his rehabilitation from a lacerated kidney but will be required to stay in Queensland due to COVID-19 restrictions.

He will not be allowed to participate in contact training for at least three months.

Dustin Martin will miss the rest of the season after suffering a significant kidney injury during a bump with Lion Mitch Robinson in Richmond's season-saving win over Brisbane.

Martin was taken to hospital after the game and will remain there for several days for observation.

Dustin Martin's manager Ralph Carr has revealed the remarkable and mysterious story of how the three-time Norm Smith Medal winner nearly moved to Greater Western Sydney in 2013.

"We'd been up there, Dustin was going to reunite with his father in Sydney because he'd had personal issues about not being closer to his father and we thought the deal was done.

"The next thing I heard, it got pulled from above. We knew it came from above. Maybe it was the CEO, maybe it was someone at the AFL, I'm not too sure."

Dustin Martin wins his third AFL Coaches' Association's Gary Ayres Award.

"Again he seized the big moments and delivered when his team needed him. He often looks to bring his teammates into the game which is a great characteristic," Hawthorn great Gary Ayres said.

"Dustin has kicked 26 goals in finals matches, where the pressure makes goal kicking even more difficult. Well done."

Dustin Martin wins the Norm Smith medal as the best player in the 2020 AFL Grand Final, becoming the first player in history to win three Norm Smith medals.

Martin stamped himself as the modern game's greatest finals performer with four goals and 21 disposals against Geelong.

Nine players received more than $1 million in the 2019 AFL season, with Dustin Martin and Nat Fyfe the standout earners.

It is believed Martin and Fyfe each earnt more than $1.3 million on 2019 accounts, well clear of the game's other million-dollar players headed by West Coast's Jeremy McGovern, GWS's Jeremy Cameron and Sydney's Lance Franklin.

Others in, or near, the million-dollar club include the Giants' Josh Kelly, Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury, Geelong's Patrick Dangerfield, Dog Marcus Bontempelli, Eagle Andrew Gaff, and Carlton's Patrick Cripps.

It was the most unlikely of holiday friendships.

Tennis legend Serena Williams posted an Instagram story of her holiday in the Maldives last year, initially focusing on husband Alexis Ohanian's attempts to DJ, before her phone captured someone very familiar to the football world.

It was none other than Richmond superstar Dustin Martin, fresh from his second Norm Smith and premiership medals, who was casually sipping a drink and hanging out with tennis royalty.

Fresh from a comfortable first-round win over Anastasia Potapova at the Australian Open on Monday, Williams was reminded of just what town she was in when asked about her holiday with "Dusty".

"It was just by chance. We met in Maldives. He just happened to be there. We just hung out. We had a blast," Williams said at her press conference.

"We decided he couldn't come to the Australian Open because he would be mobbed way too much. So it was, like, if we could hang out, it would be cool. But definitely not in Melbourne Park or here. It would be way too crazy for him."

Dustin Martin caps off a tremendous week by claiming the Gary Ayres Award for the best player of the 2019 finals in the eyes of the coaches.

The award comes on top of the premiership he won with the Tigers and his Norm Smith medal for being best on ground in the Grand Final.

Dustin Martin wins his second Norm Smith medal as best on ground in the 2019 Grand Final.

By claiming his second Norm Smith Medal, Martin joins an elite group of only three other players in VFL/AFL history to have been the best afield in two Grand Finals, including Luke Hodge, Andrew McLeod, and Gary Ayres.

Martin finished with 22 touches, a team-high 12 contested, with eight score involvements and went at an incredible 86.4 percent disposal efficiency.

"The thing that I love about this footy club is we don't really care who gets the touches, who kicks the goals," Martin said.

"I'm lucky enough today to get the recognition, but the thing I love about the team is we all play our role and it was my day today. It was someone else last week."

Dustin Martin is fined $2500 for a controversial pair of hand gestures towards Greater Western Sydney players during a fiery encounter.

Martin was fined a total of $7500, with $5000 suspended until the end of 2020, for raising his middle finger towards a Giants player and then appearing to imitate snorting drugs.

Martin also sent a written apology to the AFL, explaining his actions during the clash at Giants Stadium.

It has been alleged that Martin made the second hand gesture towards Giants ruckman Shane Mumford, who was returning from a two-game suspension after a video surfaced of him snorting a white powder late last year.

Martin apologised for his gestures on Wednesday afternoon, saying on Twitter: "Frustrating one on the weekend. I understand my reaction is not a good look for the game. I apologise for my actions. Thanks."

Dustin Martin will miss one match after having his two-match ban for his elbow to the back of Adam Kennedy's head downgraded to being deemed as low impact.

Dustin Martin reveals he began to struggle with anxiety and depression in 2018.

"I found 2018 to be really hard," Martin said.

"I woke with a weird empty feeling inside and it was really strange. I had everything I wanted and everything I dreamt of, but I didn't feel fulfilled or happy. I didn't know what was going on.

"I kept wondering why I was feeling this way. I came to realise that the materialistic things in life don't rate; it's the small things that matter most."

According to official figures to be released by the AFL in its 2018 Annual Report, six AFL players earned more than $1 million in 2018.

Richmond's Dustin Martin, Fremantle's Nathan Fyfe, Sydney's Lance Franklin, Tom Lynch (Gold Coast in 2018), GWS' Jeremy Cameron and Western Bulldogs' Tom Boyd are believed to be the six.

West Coast's Nic Naitanui is likely to have earned more than $900,000, and Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury, while not earning as much as previous seasons, would also have been around this range.

Dustin Martin will become the third-fastest player in history to reach 200 games when Richmond take on Hawthorn in their qualifying final at the MCG.

"You look at his tapes and the things that he's achieved, but it's more about the things he's brought to our footy club," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said of Martin.

"His love of his family is really strong, his dad isn't here but his nana is at every game, his mum's at every game, his cousins are at every game.

"That's something he's brought to our footy club and that's something we're incredibly proud of, the man he is today. We've learnt a lot from him."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has called on umpires to give superstar midfielder Dustin Martin greater protection from taggers.

Martin had his colours lowered by master tagger Ben Jacobs in last week's hard-fought 10-point win over North Melbourne.

"It's not often we see Dusty getting beaten ... he took that on board and Jacobs did a great job," Hardwick said.

"But we probably thought he could have got a little bit of protection from the umpires at various stages."

Dustin Martin has overtaken Patrick Dangerfield as No.1 on the AFL Player Ratings, as determined by Champion Data, ending a reign by the Cat that lasted almost two years.

Dustin Martin kicks a career-high 6 goals in Richmond's 93-point thumping of Brisbane at the MCG.

"He's a beast up there, one-on-one he's very hard to combat," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick and captain Trent Cotchin have reveal the moment they were reduced to tears after Dustin Martin's contract extension with the Tigers.

"I'll never forget being on the phone and I let a yelp like a 12-year-old schoolboy when he told me he was staying. I was that excited, I had tears," Hardwick said in Don’t Believe in Never: The Wounded Tiger Story.

"I'll never forget where I was when Dustin Martin called me to tell me he was staying a Richmond player for basically the rest of his life."

Cotchin talks openly about the moments after receiving the call from the Brownlow and Norm Smith medallist to inform him he was staying at Richmond.

"I was in the room on my own and he (Martin) called me, then I called 'Dimma' (Hardwick) and sounded him out to suss whether he knew," Cotchin said.

"I teared up, it was special."

Richmond's mindfulness coach Emma Murray gives an insight into the fanatical commitment to improvement that helped drive Dustin Martin's unprecedented 2017 season.

"What's fantastic about Dusty is he takes what you're saying and he just does it," Murray told SEN radio.

"He doesn't question it, he doesn't do it for just half a game, or do it for one day, or do it on the field but not for training.

"If that's what you're telling him will work for him, then he does it religiously and his whole life has become more simple."

Dustin Martin's hopes of a Christmas reunion with his family are dashed after his father was denied entry following requests by Australian officials.

"We had Christmas in Bali planned for a while - way before the minister's decision was overturned - and it was gonna be really special for my family to be all together," Martin said.

"I was just shattered and really confused. Why would they stop him from going to Bali now? We were there a year ago and nothing changed apart from dad winning his case.

"I'm a really proud Australian and I love this country but this just isn't a fair go."

Dustin Martin says would give anything to have his father allowed back in Australia.

"It's just helplessness, an empty feeling. You know, everyone wants their parents to be in their lives, so it's extremely hard," Martin said.

"I'd swap most things I've got at home to get him back. All the medals."

Dustin Martin's nanna has followed through on her promise that she would get a tattoo if the Tigers won the premiership.

Lois Knight has made a permanent tribute to her grandson's incredible season, inking Martin's iconic No.4 in yellow and black on her body.

Within the figure four are three words, "Premiers 2017, Brownlow and Norm Smith", paying homage to the three medallions Martin took home this year.

"I got it where you can’t see it," she said. "I can’t even see it. I've got to get a mirror to have a look in the mirror to see it. I love it and it's original."

Dustin Martin's grandmother Lois has vowed to follow through on her promise that she would get her first tattoo following Richmond's breakthrough premiership win on the weekend.

"I said if Richmond ever win a premiership I'd get a tatt," Martin's nana, Lois, told KIIS FM.

"So that'll be my first one at 70."

Dustin Martin has added to his massively burgeoning trophy cabinet, winning the 2017 AFLCA Gary Ayres Award for the best player in the finals.

Dustin Martin caps off a season of individual brilliance with his second consecutive Jack Dyer medal as Richmond's best and fairest for 2017.

Martin claiming the medal with 89 votes from key defender Alex Rance (80 votes), with half-forward/midfielder Kane Lambert (76) a surprise third after a career-best season.

"It's been an awesome year and we all deserve it," Martin said of the Tigers' premiership in 2017.

"I just love getting out there with all the boys, playing footy and you don't have to think about all the other crap in your life for those two hours, you just get out there and play footy like I've loved since I was five or six."

Dustin Martin makes history by becoming the first player in history to win a Norm Smith Medal to go with his Brownlow and premiership medal in a single season.

Dustin Martin brushes aside fears he will carry sore ribs into Saturday's Grand Final against Adelaide.

"They're (the ribs) all right - I just got a bit winded and probably carried on a bit too much," Martin told The Footy Show.

"But they're all good."

Ex-Tiger Dan Connors will be watching the Tigers, and best mate Dustin Martin play Adelaide in the 2017 Grand Final.

Their lives have gone in different directions since the fateful night five years ago when they each took sleeping pills as part of a series of events that saw them miss training the next day.

Richmond terminated Connors' playing contract – after many warnings – while Martin copped a two-week suspension and was forbidden from socialising with his fellow Bendigo Pioneer product.

They still speak multiple times a week, and Connors, who played 29 AFL games across six injury-marred seasons, is full of admiration for the man who remains a mystery to most.

"I was very proud watching him and it was good to see not only him playing well, but the other boys as well – and taking it to another level," Connors said.

"He's a bloke that will pretty much do anything for you, no matter what – even if it puts him out. That's the type of guy he is. He'll literally do absolutely anything for you to help you or to further you any way in life possible.

"He's my best mate and someone I'm pretty proud to call my mate.

"It's sort of a shame on one hand that people can't see what he's like, but on the other one, it's one of the things that makes it so good about him."

Dustin Martin lived up to his unbackable pre-count billing by claiming a record-breaking Brownlow Medal victory.

Martin, the shortest-priced favourite in history at $1.03, polled a record 36 votes to win by 11 from Hawk Tom Mitchell (25) and Sydney's Josh Kennedy (23).

The 26-year-old had a share of the award by round 21 and could not be beaten a round later, when he already had 30 votes to his name.

Martin's 11th set of three votes in the final round saw him break reigning winner Patrick Dangerfield's record haul of 35 votes from last year.

It also gave him the most three-vote performances in Brownlow history, passing the nine best-on-grounds polled by Greg Williams (1994), Nat Fyfe (2015) and Dangerfield (2016).

"It's a pretty surreal position to be in, obviously getting the (Brownlow) Medal and being in a Grand Final, so it's pretty awesome," Martin said.

"Ever since back in the day I knew this (playing in the AFL) was all I ever wanted to do, so I put everything into it and I'm glad it's paying off.

"Every year you learn new things in the game; whether it be better diet or a bit more cross-training or a bit of meditation here and there – finding new things to make you better."

Dustin Martin is named the AFL Players' Association Most Valuable Player.

Martin tallied 1333 votes, more than 500 ahead of Patrick Dangerfield on 776. Out-of-contract Greater Western Sydney gun Josh Kelly rounded out the top three with 416.

Dustin Martin's father, Shane, will be unable to watch his son play in the finals for Richmond after a new law was pushed through that will prevent him from returning to Australia.

There is also the distinct possibility that Dustin Martin will win the Brownlow Medal later this month, an event his father will also be unable to attend.

An amendment to the Migration Act to stop Shane Martin and up to 20 other people whose visas have been cancelled from re-entering Australia has been pushed through parliament by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.

"I feel for the Martin family in the circumstances, but I've got to take into consideration not only those people that have been victims of crimes committed by outlaw motorcycle gang members and those associated with them, but also the future impact, that is we want to try and reduce crime," Dutton said.

Dustin Martin polls a record number of votes to be crowned the AFL Coaches' Association player of the year.

Martin polled 122 votes to win by a margin of four from last year's winner Patrick Dangerfield, with the result sealed in the final round of the season.

Richmond boss Brendon Gale concedes the television announcement of the multi-million dollar re-signing of star Dustin Martin was far from ideal but flagged it as the way of the future.

The Tigers missed the opportunity to release one of the biggest news stories in the club's history, having to hand control to Martin and his manager Ralph Carr, who sold it to Channel Nine's The Footy Show for a reported $50,000.

"The most important thing about this footy club is our members and we would much prefer that we had given our members the opportunity to hear first," Gale said.

"I'm not going to begrudge Dustin - he's turned his back on a lot of money which is incredible, so to do a paid exclusive interview and get a bit of earn, I'm comfortable with that and I'm sure our fans are comfortable too," he said.

"I could have made the announcement nude and our fans wouldn't care."

Dustin Martin gives up more than $2million to re-sign with Richmond for another seven seasons in the richest deal in the Tigers' history.

Martin spoke to The Footy Show on Thursday night and said he twice met with North Melbourne players and staff.

"I think North's the most public (suitor). I met with the coach and just the leadership group. I really appreciate those guys for taking the time and showing interest," Martin said.

"I kind of felt like I was cheating on a girlfriend or something. It was weird."

Martin said he was happy to have the deal done as the Tigers bid to win their first final since 2001.

"It's a massive relief, to be honest. I'm sick of people talking about it. I don't like being the centre of attention so people can find something else to talk about now," Martin said.

North Melbourne is remaining tight-lipped on whether Richmond superstar Dustin Martin has indicated if he will accept its multimillion-dollar deal or remain at Punt Rd.

"I completely understand the speculation and the interest everyone's got in it but our position has been that we don't comment on players from other clubs," North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said.

"In saying that we're always looking to improve our list through any mechanism we can, so we'll continue to do that."

Journalist Damian Barrett reveals on Channel 9's The Footy Show that Dustin Martin met "about six weeks ago" with key Kangaroos, including Jack Ziebell and Robbie Tarrant.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick responded by saying he accepts that Martin's meeting last month with North Melbourne is part of the new AFL world.

"I think we've got a fair understanding this thing happens all the time," Hardwick said.

"It's part and parcel of our industry at the moment and so if you're not in it, you're not involved. We've got to make sure that we, like other clubs, will entertain players and they'll entertain our players – that's the nature of the land, and that's the way it goes."

Dustin Martin will be walking a tightrope for the rest of the season after being fined for separate incidents by the MRP.

The midfielder will be suspended for one match – and ruled ineligible for the Brownlow Medal – if he commits a third low-level offence this season.

Martin was fined $1000 for his bumping Taylor behind play in the opening minute of the game, and $1500 for making "unreasonable and unnecessary contact with an open hand" to Robertson's face.

The MRP graded the second offence as careless conduct with low impact to the head after deciding the open-handed action was not a strike but remained significant enough to draw a charge.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has vents his frustration at the on-field treatment of superstar midfielder Dustin Martin after the leading Brownlow Medal contender was baited into striking his opponent.

Martin landed what looked to be a light but closed-fisted strike around the neck of opponent Nick Robertson in the Tigers' 31-point win at Etihad Stadium.

The dynamic midfielder was lashing out after Robertson deliberately kneed him in the leg, but the incident is sure to attract the attention of the Match Review Panel.

"When you probably get belted in the back 35 times for the game, I reckon it would be fair enough," Hardwick said when asked about the Martin incident.

"We got a memo from the AFL saying if you consistently hit someone in the back it's going to be a free kick.

"So that's up to the umpires to adjudicate."

Richmond CEO Brendon Gale says the club has offered a substantial contract to Dustin Martin.

"It's fair to say the offer is a very strong one and I think it is reflective of the position he has at our club," Gale told Fox Footy.

"Credit to him, because he is a remarkable young man and a lot of his contribution isn't just on the field.

"Culturally he is a terrific connector and he is a terrific emerging leader as well … he will have a very strong offer that we are very confident in."

Essendon has categorically denied it has put a contract offer to Richmond star Dustin Martin.

"Essendon Football Club can categorically confirm that no offer has been made to Dustin Martin or his management and reports suggesting otherwise are unfounded," a statement from the club said.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick says he is unfazed by the constant speculation over Dustin Martin's impending free agency.

"Any club that's not speaking to him is crazy as far as I'm concerned," Hardwick said.

"From my point of view it's what the AFL wants. They want it front and centre, they want their brand on the back page of papers.

"Dustin's an outstanding player so he's going to create this sort of attention. It's just part and parcel of the industry we're in."

North Melbourne is reportedly set to make a huge play to lure Richmond star Dustin Martin to Arden Street.

Fairfax Media reported that North was poised to offer Martin, who is off-contract at the end of the season, a lucrative long-term deal believed to be worth at least $1 million a year.

The deal would last until at least 2022 for the 25-year-old goal-kicking midfielder, who has previously told Richmond he would not decide on his future until the end of this season.

Richmond reportedly has offered Martin a five-year deal believed to also be worth $1 million per season.

"We accept that this is the way it is and we completely understand it's Dustin's right to consider his future," Richmond football manager Neil Balme said.

"We are in this situation due to free agency, and we had no say in it but the AFL brought it in and it's here. I personally don't think it's good for footy."

Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin believes teammate Dusty Martin will eventually re-sign with the club.

"I think he loves the club, I think he's done a lot for our football club and we've done a lot for him," Cotchin said.

"Hopefully at some stage during the year, whether that be sooner rather than later or if it does have to be at the end of the season, he signs on and hopefully it's for a long period of time."

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin says teammate Dustin Martin will avoid questions about his contract status by remaining out of the limelight.

"Well he's a footballer, he's not a media personality, and that's his job," Cotchin said.

"He's a shy guy, he has a lot of things that are important to him but he doesn't need to share them in front of cameras and that's the way he feels."

Dustin Martin's mentor Mark Williams has passionately defended the midfielder's decision to step away from a media conference to avoid questions about his contract status.

Martin took to social media on Wednesday night to defend himself against what he called "fake news" and speaking to SEN radio on Thursday morning, Williams, a former assistant coach at the Tigers, also slammed reports that Martin had stormed out of the press conference.

"When they (the media) asked him about his future straight away, he politely said 'I'm not going to talk about that, I'll talk about the ball', and they persisted again and persisted again," Williams said.

"He (then) politely walked off, he didn't scream, he didn't tell them off, he just said 'Well if you're not going to respect what I'm here for, what's the point?'

"To say he stormed off is a joke, he just walked off to the side and stayed there for another half an hour taking photos with people.

"The facts are that if you keep harassing him, he'll walk away, he won't fight.

"He's a very shy person so he gets to the point (where he thinks) just leave me alone.

"There's no doubt that he can match it with anyone in regards to discussion but he just avoids conflict."

Dustin Martin has been given the green light to take all season to consider his contract offer if he needs to, with the Tigers comfortable with the terms they have offered.

"They've got every right to take as long as they like to consider it," Richmond football manager Neil Balme told SEN.

"We know where he fits in the market and we know what we've offered him, we know that's all reasonable and we're pretty confident that he genuinely wants to be a Tiger."

Dustin Martin walks away from a media conference, leaving his long-time mentor Mark Williams to talk about whether Martin would stay at Richmond beyond 2017.

"That's just between (manager) Ralph (Carr) and the club to sort out … I'm here to talk about the Sherrin today," Martin told reporters at the launch of two new Sherrin footballs.

When pressed further about his contract, the 25-year-old declined to answer, leaving Williams to step in.

"I'm sure Dustin will make the right decision," Williams said.

"He's very much a loyal man. He loves Richmond, he loves the players there and in time he'll make the right decision."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick hopes creating an environment at Punt Road Oval where Dustin Martin can reach his full potential will be enough to convince the star midfielder to stay.

"My job is to be there for Dustin and make sure he can be the best player he can be," Hardwick said.

"How it ends, I'm not too sure, but in saying that I'd like to think our footy club has been a great place for Dustin to be.

"The environment we're in lends itself to free agency and that's the way it is, but I think the relationship our football club has with Dustin is very strong."

Hawks recruit Ty Vickery says he would love to play alongside former Richmond teammate Dustin Martin again, but says the free agent shouldn't rush a decision on his future.

"There'll be a lot of media speculation the longer it goes, but the reality is that doesn't really mean anything," Vickery said.

"He's just such a talented midfielder and forward and a really good kid. Wherever he goes, or (if he stays), he's going to do well.

"He's a really good teammate and Richmond are really lucky to have him, and they know that."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says the club is working desperately to re-sign Dustin Martin as the star midfielder enters free agency in 2017.

Hardwick said the club's list management team had been in constant communication with Martin's manager Ralph Carr and talks had been positive.

"(Head of football) Neil (Balme) and (list manager) Dan (Richardson) are doing a truckload of work with Ralph," Hardwick said.

"We'd always like to think our talks are positive. Where it's at at the moment … I'm unsure at this stage."

Dustin Martin has pleaded for his father Shane to be allowed back into Australia almost 12 months after the former biker president was deported to New Zealand.

Shane Martin had his Visa cancelled in March last year after the Federal Government deemed he failed to meet minimum character requirements to stay in Australia.

A former official in the Rebels motorcycle gang, Martin is now living in his native New Zealand, where he is regularly visited by Dustin.

"I wake up every day hoping to get a phone call from dad saying, 'Guess what I'm coming back'," Martin told Channel Nine.

"He hasn't done anything wrong. If he was a criminal I'd cop it, but they've just taken him away for association."

Dustin Martin wins Richmond's best and fairest for the first time, capping a career-best season that has seen him overcome personal adversity to flourish.

Martin edged fellow 2016 All Australian Alex Rance by one vote to take home the Jack Dyer Medal, polling 62 votes in a thrilling count at Crown Palladium.

Captain and three-time winner Trent Cotchin finished third (51 votes).

"I'd like to thank Peggy (O'Neal), the board and Brendon (Gale) for sticking by me," Martin said.

"'Choco' (Mark Williams), as every year, you've helped take my game to another level and I'm going to miss you around the club.

"I'm very blessed to have so many great people in my life and I'm very grateful for it."

Dustin Martin says he wants to spend more time forward, despite enjoying a career-best season in the midfield that has him in contention for this year's Brownlow Medal.

In a rare interview on the eve of his 150th game, Martin said extra boxing sessions outside the club and mindfulness training had contributed to his career-best form.

His numbers have gone through the roof, with his average clearances (5.6) and contested possessions (13.1) reaching career-highs and his average disposals (30.6) now ranked No.4 in the AFL.

It is as a goalkicker, however, that Martin wants to make an impact in the future, with his eight goals this season well down given his full-time move into the middle.

"I'd like to [go forward more] … sometimes I just get stuck in the midfield a bit too long trying to get the ball," Martin told AFL.com.au.

"I've just got to keep reminding myself to plonk myself down there to have a bit of a rest.

"I spend a bit more time in the midfield, but no doubt I love getting down there and kicking goals."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick concedes he overstepped the mark in his critique of star midfielder Dustin Martin during his post-match press conference following the Tigers' 70-point loss to the Hawks.

After the Tigers' 70-point loss to Hawthorn last Sunday, in which Martin racked up 39 possessions and 10 clearances, Hardwick was asked if his best midfielder could win the Brownlow Medal.

The coach, who believed Martin had handballed too much instead of taking attacking options, responded: "Not on today's game. I didn't think he was that good today."

Hardwick said he had since spoken to Martin about his comments and the 25-year-old, who has racked up at least 30 possessions in eight of his past nine games, understood.

"I called Mark Maclure a goose last week and I think I was in the same boat," Hardwick said on Thursday, in reference to the ABC commentator's refusal to award Martin a vote after his 43-disposal performance against Essendon in round 17.

"We speak all the time, there are stages where I overstep the mark like I did on the weekend, and 'Dusty' understands that.

"It's a volatile game footy, it's an emotional game."

Dustin Martin tallies a career-high 38 disposals as well as seven clearances, six inside 50s and four score assists in the Tigers' 38-point win over the Bombers.

"He's an incredible athlete…you can't put a value on players like him," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said after the game.

"The scary thing is he's still got some areas of his game that we'd like him to improve as well. It's credit to the lad, every year he just seems to get better and better.

"He's 24, so it's a great sign. He works really hard on his game and is always looking for ways to improve. We've probably been crying out for that inside mid player and he's certainly put his hand up for that, which is great, so credit to him."

Richmond will continue to give star onballer Dustin Martin leave to visit his deported father in New Zealand, Tigers coach Damien Hardwick says.

Martin's father, Shane, has links to outlawed motorcycle gangs and was detained by police in Sydney last month.

His visa was cancelled for failing to meet the minimum character requirements to remain in Australia and he has since been deported to the country of his birth.

"Dustin's obviously very close with his dad and we'll continue to give him some time to be with his dad overseas, (who is) obviously in New Zealand at the moment," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

"Dustin's very resilient with these types of things, he's matured incredibly over the time we've had him at our football club."

Richmond president Peggy O'Neal says the AFL was wrong to force the club to hand Dustin Martin a $5000 suspended fine after last year's controversial restaurant incident.

"I didn't think it was necessary," O'Neal told The Age.

"The way Dustin looks attracts attention and it was said that he was a recidivist, but Dustin has not been a repeat offender. He is not a violent person, quite the opposite.

"I suppose the question is, 'Are you going to fine every player who is drunk in public?'."

Richmond CEO Brendon Gale says the club considered launching legal action against some news outlets for the way they portrayed Dustin Martin after he allegedly threatened a woman with a chopstick.

"We were disappointed in the way the broader story was presented; the way it was suggested Dusty could barely stand up or speak or he was acting like a lunatic or he was going to the toilets every five minutes," Gale said.

"All these things presented a story that made an outcome more likely – we were disappointed with that."

The AFL will review the way it deals with allegations of intimidating, threatening or violent behaviour towards women in the wake of the Dustin Martin incident.

"We need to make sure we feel that at every instance, women feel comfortable coming forward [and] that our processes for handling it and when we refer to police and how we deal with it [are suitable]," AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said.

"This incident has given us the opportunity to review that."

Dustin Martin will not face criminal charges over a restaurant incident in which he threatened to stab a woman with a chopstick.

Victoria Police investigated the incident at the Mr Miyagi restaurant and bar in Chapel Street, Windsor and determined that no criminal offence took place.

"After reviewing CCTV footage and speaking to all parties involved, including numerous independent witnesses at the restaurant on the night, investigators determined that no criminal offence took place," a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

"Police take all reports of violence towards women seriously and investigate all complaints thoroughly."

The AFL has denied it took too long to ask police to investigate allegations that Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin threatened a woman with chopsticks.

"These things do take some time. It's really important that we have a due process in place and that each of the parties get an opportunity to be heard," AFL general manager of clubs and operations Travis Auld said.

"That can take a number of days. In this case, three to four days isn't a significant time for an issue like this, and now it's in the right hands."

Victoria Police has confirmed it is investigating Dustin Martin over allegations he threatened a women with chopsticks, an investigation requested by the AFL.

"The serious nature of the allegation requires that this matter be referred to the police," a statement from the AFL said.

"If the investigation reveals threatening and violent behaviour, the AFL will take strong action."

Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett wants the club to throw the book at Dustin Martin, calling on the Tigers star to be banned for a year after Martin's latest indiscretion where he behaved in a threatening manner towards a woman in a restaurant.

Bartlett, who played 403 games for the Tigers and later coached the club, said Richmond's response was pathetic.

"Not one word that violence against women is totally unacceptable - and this is at an AFL club that has the first and only female president (Peggy O'Neal)," Bartlett said on SEN.

Dustin Martin's drunken incident is the subject of an AFL and Richmond investigation and has become a public relations debacle for the Tigers.

Club chief executive Brendon Gale belatedly issued a statement calling it a very serious matter and adding they are extremely disappointed in Martin.

Gale's statement was much stronger than the initial club confirmation where they said Martin had apologised to the woman for the Saturday night incident.

"This is a very serious matter that requires a thorough investigation and we are working with the AFL to ensure we have all the facts before us," Gale said.

"I want to be clear that any threat of physical violence against a woman - or any member of the public for that matter - is completely unacceptable.

"Dustin is disappointed in his behaviour and we are incredibly disappointed in Dustin."

Richmond's leaders will meet with Dustin Martin to decide if the midfielder will be sanctioned for disruptive behaviour that saw him ejected from a Melbourne restaurant.

A female patron of Windsor eatery Mr Miyagi has accused the 24-year-old of threatening to stab her in the face with a chopstick after she told him to settle down.

Martin at the restaurant's bar when he became unruly. He had also been drinking before arriving and had attended the Stereosonic music festival earlier in the day.

Martin was eventually asked to leave Mr Miyagi after the altercation with the female customer.

After telling him to reel in his boisterous behaviour, she said the midfielder became aggressive.

"He reacted extremely angrily and was very agitated, he began swearing at me and standing over me physically. It was extremely intimidating," she told Channel Seven.

"He physically stood over me and held a chopstick above my head and threatened to stab me in the face with the chopstick.

"He said, 'Are you going to dob on me?' and I said, 'Well, I will be calling the club on Monday', to which he reacted by slamming his hand next to my head into the wall, which at that point was obviously extremely terrifying."

The Tigers said on Monday afternoon Martin's apology to the woman had since been accepted.

"Regrettably, I was intoxicated and that in itself is completely unacceptable," Martin said.

"I do, however, take responsibility for my behaviour and I am deeply embarrassed.

"If anything I have said or done has caused anyone to feel threatened then that is totally inappropriate."

Richmond development coach Mark Williams says the club will embrace Chris Yarran's individuality – as they did with Dustin Martin – to get the best out of their talented recruit.

"People with great talent - if you can get them to be consistent and continually back themselves and believe in themselves, it'll be great for Richmond," Williams said.

"All players are different – you can treat them all the same but you won't get the best result from them.

"Dustin would be one that if you make the rules 'this' strict, he's going to break some of them … give him a few guidelines off the field on what we can accept and once he joins in with the group and understands the responsibility he just delivers."

Alex Rance wins his first Richmond best and fairest for the Tigers, capping a brilliant season just months after he considered walking away from the game.

Rance polled 76 votes to edge out midfielder Dustin Martin (60) and vice-captain Brett Deledio (54), receiving the Jack Dyer Medal at a sold-out Crown Palladium.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says the Tigers didn't like Dustin Martin's gesture to Collingwood fans last Saturday and they have addressed the players as a group since.

"We just want to control what we can control within the white lines. We didn't like it," Hardwick said.

"We like our players to celebrate goals with their teammates, we like our players to just worry about what's happening within the white lines.

"That was just the conversation we had. It's not something we're overly rapt with, but we understand these things happen."

Dustin Martin will have to pay a suspended $2000 sanction for making a gesture to the crowd during last Saturday's game against Collingwood.

The AFL football operations department decided after receiving a written explanation from Martin that they would impose the $2000 fine, suspended for two years, after he made the 'handcuffs' gesture during the 2013 elimination final.

Dustin Martin is facing a possible fine, with the AFL's football operations department investigating a gesture he made to Collingwood supporters during Richmond's win at the MCG on Saturday.

After running into an open goal in the last quarter of Saturday's game, Martin raised two fingers to the Collingwood cheer squad.

The AFL announced on Monday afternoon that the Match Review Panel had referred the Martin incident to the League's football operations department for determination under the competition's player rules.

Richmond vice-captain Brett Deledio says Tigers teammate Dustin Martin has been challenged by his coach to become a better contested player and two-way runner this year.

"That's something that 'Dimma' has been challenging him on for a little while now, to be that bull inside who can win it at the coalface and then get out," Deledio said.

"We know he can deliver it and kick those nice goals, but he has been challenged and he's certainly living up to it at the moment.

"The challenge for Dusty is to keep on doing it because he's winning a lot of respect, not only from the outside world but certainly from his teammates because we're loving the way he's playing at the moment."

Dustin Martin has re-signed with the Tigers in a deal that ties the 23-year-old to the club until the end of 2017.

"Dustin's development, both on and off the field, has been extremely impressive, and it's exciting to think that at just 23, he still has scope for significant further improvement," Richmond's general manager of football Dan Richardson said.

"Following a strong pre-season, we look forward to seeing him take another key step in his league career in 2015."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has challenged Dustin Martin to emulate Dons skipper Jobe Watson by taking his game to the next level in 2015.

"We think his running capacity has really improved over the course of his pre-seasons he's had with us, and we feel for him to take that next step as a player it's going to be the majority of him playing midfield," Hardwick said.

"He needs to become a contested ball king, a tackle king in that area, much like a Jobe Watson type of player that's capable of setting up the game from the middle of the ground."

Richmond has confirmed it will not punish Dustin Martin after he was caught driving an unregistered vehicle potentially unlicensed.

The Tigers say they have spoken with Martin about his latest indiscretion, but have decided not to take further action against the star midfielder.

Dustin Martin is driving an unregistered vehicle while potentially unlicensed but Richmond are unlikely to take any action against the midfielder.

Richmond say they are not opposed to Dustin Martin's decision to live sacked Tiger Dan Connors.

"We are aware that Dustin has moved in with Dan and it's not a concern," Richmond football manager Dan Richardson said.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says Dustin Martin has been training in the backlines with the Tigers looking to exploit his attacking skills from half-back in 2014.

"He's shown the ability to play forward and through the midfield … probably the one area we haven't really tinkered with a little bit is his ability to play down back," Hardwick said.

"That's something we're looking at this year. He's a very capable player at creating scores.

"If we can get the ball in his hands through that half-back zone, it's a very damaging scoring zone, so we feel as if we'll certainly score from that."

Despite media reports that Dustin Martin was exploring his options during the trade period, Richmond captain Trent Cotchin believes his teammate was never going to leave the club.

"I think in his head there was never really a period where he was leaving the footy club," Cotchin said.

"I know how much he loves the guys and I know how much he's learned from so many different individuals within our club.

"He just wants to make people happy and that's the best thing about him, he will do anything and everything for his teammates."

Dustin Martin signs a two-year deal with the Tigers to stay at Punt Road after trade options dry up.

"I want to thank the Richmond Football Club and our supporters for being so patient during these negotiations," Martin said.

"My family and I are grateful for the manner in which Ralph Carr has represented me.

"I am now looking forward to doing everything possible to help the Club and my teammates have the success we all crave."

Dustin Martin's manager Ralph Carr insists that Martin's decision to explorer opportunities outside of the Tigers was not driven by money.

"It was never about the money, people assume that," Carr said.

"It was about the (player's) welfare. I was really concerned about him missing his family. When you see a kid every day and spend time with him, you really get concerned about that."

Dustin Martin looks increasingly likely to remain at Richmond after the Lions become the latest club to pull out of the race to secure the young midfielder's services.

"After evaluating our list and discussions with our general manager of football operations, Dean Warren, and senior coach, Justin Leppitsch, we have decided not to pursue Dustin in the upcoming trade period," Lions national talent manager Rob Kerr said in the statement.

"We wish Dustin all the best in his career but at this point in time our key focus is on retaining the club's young talent, and we're working hard to try and achieve this."

Dustin Martin's manager Ralph Carr responds to criticism that he has negatively influenced his client during negotiations for a new contract with Richmond.

"I stand by everything I have said and I stand by the way I have represented this kid. My business has been sullied and my reputation has been damaged," Carr told Fairfax Media.

"I care about Dustin. He's a terrific kid and I've been misrepresented. I'm not an advocate for players changing clubs and I've always hoped that Dustin would stay at Richmond."

The number of potential suitors for Dustin Martin continues to dwindle with the Demons reported to have baulked at Martin's asking price of $600,000 a year.

Richmond CEO Brendan Gale says the club still wants Dustin Martin to remain a Tiger despite the midfielder stating his desire to test the market for his services.

"Dustin was at the Brownlow last night and we've said all along he's a Richmond player, he's a required player and he's indicated he wanted to go and test the market," Gale said.

"I imagine he's tested the market and we'll have to have a chat."

GWS list manager Stephen Silvagni confirms the club's intentions to lure Dustin Martin after giving the Richmond midfielder a tour of the Giants' facilities.

"There's obviously a decision for Dustin to make but we've got to go back amongst ourselves to discuss certain options we have with other players we're dealing with," Silvagni told Channel Nine's The Footy Show.

"Dustin was up here today to visit his father and we took the opportunity show him around our facilities and have a bit of a chat to him.

"It was just a chat, obviously his manager Ralph Carr said that he'd like to look at some opportunities and we felt we'd be neglectful in not speaking to Dustin and his management."

Dustin Martin flies to Sydney to meet with Greater Western Sydney as he continues to weigh up his football future.

The Giants appear to be in the box seat to snare Martin should he decide to leave Richmond, with reports suggesting Melbourne had pulled out of the race, having baulked at the midfielder's apparent asking price of $600,000 a season.

Martin has stated, via Twitter, that despite fielding offers from rival clubs, he has still not yet decided to leave Richmond.

"At the weekend, I asked my manager Ralph Carr to request an extension of time from Richmond, to allow me to fully consider the options about my future," Martin tweeted.

"This decision was made purely by me, together with my family.

"As you can understand, this is a very important decision for myself and my family and one that I won't make lightly.

"I want to make it clear that I appreciate everyone's patience in allowing me the time to make this decision.

"The claims that I have walked out on the Richmond Football Club are totally incorrect.

"I can tell you that at this time, no decision has [been made]."

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou offers some words of advice for Dustin Martin who is on the verge of leaving the Tigers.

"I'd say to Dustin that 'you've got an enormous future in the game. You've got terrific talent'," Demetriou told Seven's Talking Footy program.

"'You've got good people at this football club who have been doing the right thing by you and they've invested a lot of time in you and you should make the most of your opportunity'.

Dustin Martin's management tells Richmond he will be pursuing offers from rival clubs.

"Given the considerable effort we have put into Dustin's development both on and off the field, and our efforts to retain him all season, we are extremely disappointed with this decision," Richmond football manager Dan Richardson said.

Melbourne confirms it has approached Dustin Manager's manager to express their interest in luring the midfielder from the Tigers.

"Melbourne did make enquiries to his management about his intentions for next year," Richmond football operations manager Josh Mahoney said.

"We are waiting to hear back from them before we discuss any next steps we might take as a club."

The AFL hands Dustin Martin a suspended fine for his 'jailbird' gesture during Richmond's elimination final against Carlton.

The AFL has asked Richmond to investigate what prompted Dustin Martin's 'jailhouse salute' after he kicked a goal in Sunday's game against Carlton at the MCG.

Martin briefly joined his wrists together after kicking a goal in the second quarter in front of more than 94,000 people at the MCG.

The action drew the ire of AFL.com.au commentator and former Western Bulldog Luke Darcy.

"I would be absolutely furious if I was Damien Hardwick and his teammates. That is very selfish and just a really poor thing to do. Leave that out of the game: give him a call, send him a postcard," Darcy said.

"In a big final, when your whole season is on the line, to be thinking about that - I don't understand it."

Out-of-contract Tiger midfielder Dustin Martin is reported to have rejected Richmond's latest offer.

The Herald Sun reports that Dustin Martin's management is shopping the young midfielder around at an asking price of $600,000 but is failing to attract any interest of significance.

Richmond has conceded Dustin Martin's contract negotiations are taking longer than the club would like but remains confident Martin will stay a Tiger.

"It's probably taken a little longer than we would have liked but we're pretty confident there's some details [we can] work through," Richmond CEO Brendon Gale told 3AW radio.

"I think Dustin doesn't want to go anywhere, wants to be at our club, he's an important part of our future, we love Dusty, he's a kid who's really matured and evolved the past couple of years.

"We're pretty confident that will be done in due course."

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin says teammate Dustin Martin is starting to get his life on track off the field.

"He's put so many things in place now that keep him in check," Cotchin said.

"He's been fantastic. He's got a program. On his day off it might be four different things that he needs to tick off.

"It might be paying his phone bill and so forth. But he's learnt that having structure in his life is a real good guidance to living the right way."

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin says he is confident Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin will stay at Richmond as the team builds towards a future of success.

"It's a great place to be, we've got a young group that have been together now for quite some time and we're building towards something," Cotchin said.

"Every player in the AFL would love to be paid as much as they possibly can, but the reality is there's a cap there for that reason. If you want to be part of successful clubs, then sometimes there's a little bit of sacrifice that needs to be made.

"We're all about spending time together, building something and enjoying the whole ride together."

Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin come out of contract at the end of 2012, but Richmond believes they are well placed to secure their services beyond this year.

"We're confident where we're placed with both Jack and Dustin," Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale said.

"Those discussions have been worked through in a professional manner with their representatives and we're very confident they'll be resolved.

"We're confident in the offering. We've got to make sure we guide it by the market and pay the players the market value. We've got the integrity of our own salary cap to be mindful of as well."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick believes Dustin Martin is set to have a standout 2013 season with the midfielder finding some much needed stability in his life.

"The fact is he's working incredibly hard on the field and off the field he's started a part-time job, which we're really excited about," Hardwick said.

"We think this will be the making of him as a player. He's had a fantastic pre-season, we certainly look forward to him having a good season in 2013."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick slams online rumours surrounding Dustin Martin suggesting, amongst other things, that the young midfielder was under surveillance from police, about to be sacked by Richmond, and being investigated by the Australian Crime Commission.

"He's fine. He's a resilient individual but all we can deal in is the facts," Hardwick said.

"It's disappointing - social media, it's un-Australian. It's just whingeing, whining. I can't stand it."

Richmond have reportedly told young midfielder Dustin Martin to stop socialising with troubled former teammate Daniel Connors.

"Dusty is my best mate, but I don't think the club is real keen on him hanging out with me,'' Connors said.

"They told him he's not allowed to hang out with me, but I can still speak to him on the phone. I still speak to him every day.''

Connors, meanwhile, says he longs for another shot at playing AFL football.

"I didn't think I'd miss is that much, but I've been out of the system for a while now and I'd definitely rather be in there than not,'' Connors said.

"I'm just hoping that somewhere down the line I get another chance. Being out of the game and missing it, you see how lucky you are to be in the system."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says emerging star Dustin Martin needs to find something outside of football to keep him occupied.

"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.

"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."

Dustin Martin says he has learnt from this mistakes and can't wait to play football with the Tigers again.

"I was just really disappointed in myself that I let the whole club down - all the boys and the coaches," Martin said.

"It was tough to sit in front of them and face them, but I've learned a lot from it . . . It's been pretty frustrating training, doing long runs on the weekends, and knowing there's no other reason why I'm doing it . . . it's just because of the stupid mistake."

Richmond football manager Craig Cameron admits the Tigers are sometimes concerned about Dustin Martin's wellbeing.

"Dustin needs to have structure in his life," Cameron told SEN radio.

"The times that we might become a little bit concerned are when the season ends and there's not the training programs that he's got in place or the games.

"But we're working with him constantly to try and put some structure into his life and to be more active with some of the things he's doing away from football."

Daniel Connors walks away from the Richmond Tigers after both him and Dustin Martin missed a training session as a result of taking sleeping medication the night before.

"We have set a standard as a football club and there is a clear expectation that our players meet that standard," Richmond football manager Craig Cameron said.

"Adhering to training requirements is not negotiable. Daniel has failed to meet club expectations on a number of occasions and this latest incident can't be considered in isolation."

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says midfielder Dustin Martin has worked hard to improve the defensive side of his game.

"Offensively, 'Dusty' can play there's no doubt - he's got that ability to press forward," Hardwick said.

"But the thing we've really been pleased with is his ability to tackle and chase. We sat down with him and showed him a few players and how they measure their game on it (tackling pressure) and funnily enough, if you get your defensive game right, your offensive game certainly follows."

Richmond sign young guns Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin to long-term deals, making them two of the richest young stars in the AFL.

"The important thing is the players have bought into the plan," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

"It's great to have a plan, but the players must buy in. They can see something we're building. It's an exciting time to be a Richmond supporter. It's been a tough year, but we've laid a reasonably solid foundation going forward."

Dustin Martin is the 2010 round 10 NAB rising star nominee after impressing with his ability to win the contested ball in heavy and wet conditions against Port Adelaide.

Martin has been linked recently to the new Greater Western Sydney team but has hinted that he will remain at Richmond.

"The Tigers gave me the opportunity and I'm happy here so I'd be happy to stay here," he said.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick has confirmed the club is in contract negotiations with young star Dustin Martin.

"We're very confident that he'll stay and be a very good player for our footy club," Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said.

"Dustin's not going anywhere we don't think. He's very happy here, and we're in negotiations at the moment."

The Herald Sun reports that Richmond young gun Dustin Martin has received a verbal offer of $800,000 a season over three seasons from 2012 from the New South Wales expansion team Greater Western Sydney.

Dustin Martin makes his AFL debut for Richmond at the MCG with 18 disposals (5 kicks and 13 handballs), 4 marks and 3 tackles in a 56-point loss to Carlton.

Brett Deledio says Dustin Martin has led an impressive pre-season by Richmond's brigade of younger players.

"He (Martin) has come in and played some good footy early on. He has put a few of us older blokes to shame," Deledio said.

"He's nearly bigger than most of us and he wins a bit of his own footy".

The hard work can't come soon enough for Dustin Martin after being drafted by Richmond with pick No. 3.

"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."