He would tell interviewers what he would offer to the football club that drafted him, where he felt he had weaknesses, those who had influenced him, his role models and what he would do if he was overlooked in the draft.
Wearing the draft camp’s white T-shirt, Dusty, at 18, was literally a cleanskin, in that he did not then have the signature tattoos on his arms or neck. And while his body language might be interpreted as somewhat nervous – he often fiddled with his hands – he was also rapid and forthright in most answers.
Richmond’s 300-gamers (from left): Kevin Bartlett, Shane Edwards, Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt and Francis Bourke.Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos
The most revealing take-out from the interview was that the teenage Dustin Martin knew precisely how he excelled as a player, where he had to improve and what he would offer the AFL club lucky enough to pick him.
He began by stating his name and occupation: “Dustin Martin, I work as an electrician in Bendigo and I play for the Bendigo Pioneers.”
Did he have an apprenticeship, asked one AFL interviewer? “Just working at the moment because the boss didn’t really want to give me an apprenticeship in case I went away,” said Dusty, who later expressed his willingness to be drafted to any location in Australia.
Martin said that his brothers were “probably” his main influences in his football infancy, one of whom was playing for Castlemaine’s seniors. “Playing football with my brother in under 15s, I played with him, yeah, I just love playing football. I didn’t really have …” The sentence wasn’t completed.
A St Kilda supporter in his teens, Dusty was more forthcoming and detailed on which AFL players he had modelled himself on.
“Probably a little bit Lenny Hayes or a bit of Joel Selwood. Just because Lenny Hayes is such a good clearance player, he can get the hard ball, win his own ball, break the lines and Selwood’s pretty similar – he can give it off and give it back, set up a lot of forward attacks.”
Martin was then asked, for the second time, about his on-field strong suits.
Interviewer: “I know you say you were inside, a strong player, but what would you classify as your strengths?
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Martin: “As my strengths? Just being able to win me own ball. I can play at both ends and yeah, just winning – if I’m near a contest, I can usually get the ball.”
Those who watched Martin from the Pioneers days attest his ball-winning gift was already evident. It was noteworthy that Dusty placed this first in the pecking order twice.
Interviewer: “Kicking?”
Martin: “Yeah, I reckon I’m a pretty good kick. Yeah, I’m a good kick and got good hands.”
He expressed satisfaction with playing in the TAC Cup (now Coates League) under 18s for Bendigo and with being selected to play five games for the Victoria Country side.
In the back half of the interview, Martin was quizzed about his weaknesses. Again, he was quick off the mark.
“Definitely fitness for sure. Yep, fitness would be probably top of the list.”
What would he do to redress this weakness, asked his interlocutor?
“Just at training, just work me butt off,” said Dusty. “And just kind of run with some of the fitter players like Cal, and the last five weeks of whatever it’s been since we finished, I’ve just been running with Cal, trying to get better.”
Early days: Dustin Martin after being snapped up by the Tigers.Credit: Sebastian Costanzo
The “Cal” that Martin mentioned was Cal Geary, the elder brother of former St Kilda captain Jarryn Geary, according to a Pioneers person from that time. Cal Geary twice won best and fairests with Bendigo and was an endurance running machine, but his lack of size was counted against him. Overlooked in the draft, Geary was Martin’s training partner.
“Yeah, Cal’s awesome, he’s really, he gives you – he pushes you along and you know, he’s good.”
The interviewer noted that Martin had tested well for speed and repeat sprints, clarifying that “Dusto” – an erroneous nickname they used twice – was referring to aerobic fitness as the weakness he was working to improve.
“Yeah, definitely try and get in the 14s for the beep test and get the 10s for the 3 K-er (three-kilometre run),” Martin said, with an affirmative nod.
How many pre-seasons had he completed? “Oh, well, I haven’t, because I wasn’t in the system, I’ve probably only done one, that was this year,” said Dusty.
“So yeah, I reckon I’d be a lot fitter if I got a good pre-season.”
Martin had played for Vic Country that year and made all-Australian. “I aimed to play, or make the squad and play all five games and I did that.” The interviewer wanted to know if he had been happy with his performances at the higher level.
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“Yeah, but I was pretty happy with probably two or three of my games,” Dusty answered. “But with a few others, pretty inconsistent when I would have a good first half or a good second half and quiet other half, when I just want to try and be playing four quarters.”
Martin’s endurance would remain a work-in-progress in his early years at Tigerland. Over time, he would become the four-quarter performer of his aspirations.
As the interview entered time-on, Martin addressed the issue of his plan if he wasn’t drafted the next month. It was a question that was far-fetched to those who had watched Dusty in the under 18s – including the man who drafted him, Francis Jackson – and had him slated for an early pick (he went at pick No. 3, with the Swans unsuccessfully seeking to trade down to get him. He had also lived in Sydney with his father Shane before the Pioneers period).
What would Dusty do? “I’d probably just try out for VFL and just try and play at the highest level I can and just get the best out of myself.”
Interviewer: “Would you give up on playing AFL footy?
Martin: “No, Definitely not. There’s people that can go through the VFL and get rookied and stuff like that, so I’d be aiming to do that.”
Out of the blue, one interrogator asked Martin what was more important to him than footy.
“For myself? Uhm, probably family and yeah (nods).” He did not expand further.
Asked if he had a girlfriend, Dusty said he did not, which was a prelude to the predictable AFL question of whether he had an issue with moving out of state.
“Yeah, I’d be happy going (anywhere).”
Martin’s interview – which was intended for the 16 clubs of 2009 – concluded with his pitch to any of those clubs.
“Dusto, here’s your chance,” said the interviewer. “Look down the barrel. I want you tell the AFL club why they should pick you.”
Martin seemed to be prepared, such was the rapidity of his response.
“Because I would bring good relationships to the players and staff, and I would make an immediate impact into the side and hopefully play straight away, round one.”
Martin made good on both of his selling points. Richmond’s football department have long testified to his care for teammates and staff – a side to him that his famed media-aversion has largely concealed.
He duly played in round one of 2010, in Damien Hardwick’s first game as senior coach, against Carlton. He has since played 299 games for the Tigers, and zero at VFL level.
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