Richmond captain Trent Cotchin says Dustin Martin had to learn to “love himself” on his path to becoming an AFL superstar.
Martin was at the forefront as the Tigers claimed a third premiership in four years on Saturday night, cementing his own legacy with another best afield display to claim an unprecedented third Norm Smith Medal.
The 29-year-old kicked four goals from 21 disposals in the 31-point win over Geelong at the Gabba.
“Everybody who speaks about him, particularly in the AFL world, is just in awe of his unique ability to will himself and win games off the back of his own boot,” Cotchin told The Sunday Footy Show.
“But I think the thing that I love most about him is the journey that he’s been on about really connecting with himself and finding that love for himself.
“I encourage it for everyone to be the case.
“The footy environment can be tough at different stages and the expectation that’s put on players, particularly like himself, it can be a lot to deal with.
“But the way that he just shows up and continually just is true to himself is really impressive to watch from afar, but also from right by his side.”
Notoriously private, Martin made a rare media appearance alongside coach Damien Hardwick in Richmond’s post-match press conference after the grand final.
He said the “humble and hungry” Tigers will enjoy their latest success and have a shot at yet another premiership next season, but believes the journey is what is most important.
“That’s something that we speak about as an organisation – it’s the journey that brings you the happiness,” Martin said.
“This stuff at the end is cool, but the memories that we’ve got this year and over the last however long are going to be something that we look back on and it’s just going to be amazing.”
As Martin scorched the Gabba turf on Saturday night, his exiled father Shane Martin watched on television from New Zealand.
“We spoke to him after the game but as usual it’s all noisy, you can’t hear stuff, but you could hear how excited he was,” Shane Martin told the NZ Herald.
“It’s pretty hard to see it on TV when I should be there, really, but that’s another story.
“It’s still a proud moment but I would have loved to be there, but yeah, you know, it is what it is, don’t want to take the moment away from it.”