Dustin Martin’s spiritual awakening revealed
Books, yoga and meditation have led former Richmond lad Dustin Martin on a path to spiritual awakening … It’s true! Just ask Tigers captain and Dusty’s best mate Trent Cotchin.
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There was an off-season hike in Ubud, and then the decision to read to learn “real things” rather than watching “garbage TV”.
He also revealed earlier this year that he had his nose tucked inside Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment.
Best mate and Richmond captain Trent Cotchin describes Martin’s transformation as an “interesting phase” that stretches well beyond the football field.
“(The endeavour) hasn’t been about his footy really, it’s just been about his life,” the skipper says.
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“I think he’s mentioned that he’s suffered a bit of anxiety here and there, and is just finding new ways of just being in the moment rather than worrying about what has happened or what is going to happen.
“I know that he loves yoga, when I tell people that he’s read a few books, some find it hard to believe.”
To further complete this new-age approach, 28-year-old Martin follows a host of spiritual guidance accounts on Instagram and meditates regularly.
“Evolve to higher self,” one reads.
“As we grow up, we realise it becomes less important to have more friends and more important to have real friends,” says another.
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Cotchin says the change in Martin has brought the pair even closer.
“The thing that I love about Dusty’s journey is how much he’s just explored in learning about himself,” Cotchin says.
“And others, particularly.
“There’s been a number of times where I’ve said he’s one of the most caring people in our footy club or that I even know, and I think that would surprise a lot of people given how he can come across at times in the media or just in general.
“He’s very genuine and cares a lot. It’s just been good to watch.”
It seems a million miles from the nervous kid who was drafted from the Bendigo Pioneers and thrust in front of the media, let alone the day in July 2012 when he was suspended, and teammate Daniel Connors sacked, for missing training as a result of taking sleeping pills.
Those closest to him say he’s grown up, with his maturity now a major asset.
Martin — like many Tigers — has long worked closely with mind coach Emma Murray.
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The self-confessed introvert struggled with the attention that followed his record-breaking 2017 season — a premiership, a Brownlow Medal, the Norm Smith Medal, the club best-and-fairest, an All-Australian blazer and the AFL Players’ Association and Coaches’ Association MVP awards
“It’s like, ‘s …, what’s next?’,” he told website Complex in a rare interview at the end of 2018.
Cotchin says the toll had been evident last year.
“If you asked anyone, particularly if you’re the most talked about player in the competition, you probably do get sick of people talking about you, either behind your back or in the paper,” he said.
“That can sometimes just take a toll on you.”
Cotchin says Martin is his own harshest critic with regards to performance.
“He cares, so he feels like, ‘If I’m not performing to the level that I think I should be, then I’m letting my teammates down’.
“He went on a journey of working out what he really values, but also what others really value of him.
“It gave him a lot of clarity.”
Martin’s long-time manager Ralph Carr — who describes the Tiger as a “hugely bankable brand” — says his client’s personal growth in recent years is undeniable.
“I think Dustin’s personal development has been due to his personal maturity,” Carr says.
“He understands his responsibilities as a professional footballer and ambassador of the game.
“The changes I have noticed is his willingness, through more confidence, to help others and be more involved in helping Richmond achieve the ultimate success.”
All-Australian Tiger defender Bachar Houli says his Brownlow Medal-winning teammate has discovered his voice.
“I’ve got to, over the last two or three years, spend a little bit more time with Dusty, and the way he speaks up in meetings now … you can tell he’s matured a lot,” Houli says.
“He’s all about the team … it’s about giving it to someone in a better position, as well.
“That shows growth in his football and off-field, his decision has been to really change his life.
“I’m sure Trent Cotchin has had a massive impact on his life, as well.”
It’s an evolution that has impressed the hierarchy at Punt Rd.
Richmond football boss Neil Balme says the beginning of the season saw Martin “doing a lot of the hard work” in the absence of fellow senior players, but as the team got stronger, so has he.
Between Rounds 1 and 6, he averaged 21 possessions a game. By the last five games, that average rocketed to 32.
His more vocal nature, according to Balme, has been a welcome addition to his already blistering football ability.
“He’s turned into a damn good leader, actually. Terrific,” Balme says.
“He now realises that his teammates want and are interested in his opinion — they want his buy-in.
“They want to know what he’s thinking and they want to be able to engage with him. He’s not the noisiest, but he’s grown into it.”
Balme has just about seen it all in football with a playing and administration career that spans six almost decades.
While the fast haircut and stunning array of tattoos isn’t really his flavour, he remains regularly stunned by the Martin’s undeniable brilliance.
“No matter how long you’ve been involved, and no matter how much you normalise it, every now and again he’ll do something and you go, ‘Gee whiz — he can play’,” Balme says.
“He still does that fairly regularly, which is good. He’s not trying something impossible, it’s just the way he plays. And he is still great to watch.”
Cotchin isn’t surprised by interest in his close relationship with Martin — or “Uncle Usty” to the Cotchin kids, who love spending time with the star onballer.
He understands how from the outside they might seem like football’s Odd Couple.
But the further evolution of his teammate, fellow premiership player and friend has only seen his pride swell as the pair hunt a second flag in three years in coming weeks.
“The majority of our values align really well, and that’s why we have such a special friendship,” Cotchin says.
“I’m more proud about him in life and in general more so than footy.
“To me, that’s just part of him, whereas there’s a whole lot more to him than what we see every day.”
Originally published as Dustin Martin’s spiritual awakening revealed