Dustin Martin
Encyclopedia
Dustin Martin is a professional Australian rules football
player currently signed with Richmond
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). In 2009 he played with the Bendigo Pioneers and the Victoria Country side in the under-18 national championships. He also made the All-Australian team in the centre position.
to a Maori father from New Zealand and an Australian mother. He played football for Castlemaine in the Bendigo Football League before he left school in year 9 and moved to Sydney with his father, Shane. In Sydney he played for the Campbelltown Blues under 18's team, playing a senior game at the end of the season. Meanwhile he worked at Shane's transport business and Shane's girlfriend's sports apparel business.
in the TAC Cup
. He returned to the Pioneers side the following year and played exceptionally well, coming runner-up in the best and fairest count. While playing for Bendigo he averaged 24.7 touches (9.7 of them contested) and 115 Supercoach
points in 11 games. He also finished 1st in disposals, contested possessions, inside 50's and score assists.
Things got even better from there for Martin. He represented Vic Country in the under 18's championships, averaging 21.4 touches (7.2 contested) and 111 Supercoach points in five games. In one of the best games playing for Vic Country, Martin gathered 28 touches, 5 clearances and 193 Supercoach points against Western Australia in the final match of the under-18 national championships. He was selected in the under 18's All-Australian team.
Martin was drafted to Richmond with the third selection in the 2009 AFL Draft
.
He debuted in the opening round of the 2010 season against Carlton. Despite the Tigers losing by 56 points, Martin impressed with 18 touches, four marks and three tackles and scoring 62 in AFL Dream Team
In round 5, 2011 against North Melbourne, Martin had what was described by Richmond coach, Damien Hardwick
, as his "coming of age", kicking four goals and gathering 33 possessions.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
player currently signed with Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). In 2009 he played with the Bendigo Pioneers and the Victoria Country side in the under-18 national championships. He also made the All-Australian team in the centre position.
Early life
Martin was born in Castlemaine, VictoriaCastlemaine, Victoria
Castlemaine is a city in Victoria, Australia, in the Goldfields region of Victoria about 120 kilometres northwest by road from Melbourne, and about 40 kilometres from the major provincial centre of Bendigo. It is the administrative and economic centre of the Shire of Mount Alexander. The...
to a Maori father from New Zealand and an Australian mother. He played football for Castlemaine in the Bendigo Football League before he left school in year 9 and moved to Sydney with his father, Shane. In Sydney he played for the Campbelltown Blues under 18's team, playing a senior game at the end of the season. Meanwhile he worked at Shane's transport business and Shane's girlfriend's sports apparel business.
Early football career
At the end of 2007 he moved back to Castlemaine where he played for the Castlemaine senior side. He played the last four games of the 2008 season for the Bendigo PioneersBendigo Pioneers
The Bendigo Pioneers are an Australian rules football team in a Victorian under 18s league the TAC Cup.Bendigo Pioneers is an Australian rules football team playing in TAC Cup since 1993 based in Bendigo. The team trains at Wade St Oval, Golden Square. The team is coached by Mark Ellis...
in the TAC Cup
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
. He returned to the Pioneers side the following year and played exceptionally well, coming runner-up in the best and fairest count. While playing for Bendigo he averaged 24.7 touches (9.7 of them contested) and 115 Supercoach
Supercoach
Supercoach is an online Australian Football League fantasy football game in which the competitor takes on the role of coach and selector and guide his or her hand-picked team to glory against other teams. Supercoach is run by the Herald Sun in Melbourne...
points in 11 games. He also finished 1st in disposals, contested possessions, inside 50's and score assists.
Things got even better from there for Martin. He represented Vic Country in the under 18's championships, averaging 21.4 touches (7.2 contested) and 111 Supercoach points in five games. In one of the best games playing for Vic Country, Martin gathered 28 touches, 5 clearances and 193 Supercoach points against Western Australia in the final match of the under-18 national championships. He was selected in the under 18's All-Australian team.
Professional career
Martin entered the AFL draft camp at the AIS in Canberra, scoring an excellent 14.0 score in the endurance-based beep test and ran the 20 m sprint in 2.89 seconds, the second fastest at the camp.Martin was drafted to Richmond with the third selection in the 2009 AFL Draft
2009 AFL Draft
The 2009 AFL Draft consists of four opportunities for player acquisitions during the 2009/10 Australian Football League off-season. These were the Trade Week , the National Draft , the Pre-Season Draft and the Rookie Draft .- Trades :In the lead up to the trade week many high profile players such as...
.
He debuted in the opening round of the 2010 season against Carlton. Despite the Tigers losing by 56 points, Martin impressed with 18 touches, four marks and three tackles and scoring 62 in AFL Dream Team
AFL Dream Team
AFL Dream Team, created by The Age newspaper in 1991, is a fantasy football game in which participants assemble an imaginary team of real life players and score points based on those players' actual statistical performance or their perceived contribution on the field of play throughout the 24 round...
In round 5, 2011 against North Melbourne, Martin had what was described by Richmond coach, Damien Hardwick
Damien Hardwick
Damien Patrick Hardwick is a former Australian rules footballer and the coach of the Richmond Football Club.-Early life:He attended St Joseph's College in Ferntree Gully.-AFL playing career:...
, as his "coming of age", kicking four goals and gathering 33 possessions.