Dustin Martin opens up on rise to AFL stardom in new book
The notoriously private Dustin Martin has given fans are rare glimpse into his life away from the football field, in a new book recounting his rise from a footy-loving toddler to one of the greatest players the AFL has ever seen.
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Richmond champion Dustin Martin has opened up his family album sharing never before seen photos of his rise from a footy obsessed country kid to Grand Final glory with the Tigers.
The notoriously private AFL superstar has offered fans a tantalising glimpse into his early life and his passion for football which was ignited when he was barely more than a toddler in the new book Dustin Martin: My Story So Far ….
“I was like any young kid, loved his footy. Mum and Dad introduced me to Auskick when I was five or six and I’ve loved footy ever since,” Martin says in the book.
“There’s nothing better than playing footy in front of the Tiger fans at the ‘G or wherever we’re playing. The best day of the week is game day and that’s what we live for. It’s all worth it when you are running around out there.
“Once you step on the footy field all you think about is footy. It is the best two hours of the week.”
In family snapshots Martin is seen as a youngster proudly holding a footy, sweaty but delighted after showing plenty of flare with the bat as a schoolboy cricketer, posing proudly for a team photo with the Campbells Creek under 12 side, and sporting an early version of the Dusty mullet in a school photo from Castlemaine High.
Other photos from his formative years show the bond he shares with his brothers, Tyson and Bronson, and his parents and his love of competition.
The book, published by Hardie Grant, is designed to be an illustrated companion to Martin’s incredible AFL career. It lavishly chronicles the chapters in his playing career, complete with his thoughts on the highlighted moments, and provides behind-the-scenes photos from some of his more unusual activities like doing a photoshoot in his underwear with a real tiger.
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“I don’t really know why everyone is intrigued by me; I just want to play footy, have fun with my friends … I’m incredibly lucky to have such great teammates, we truly have something special at our club,” Martin says.
This is an edited extract from Dustin Martin: My Story So Far … published by Hardie Grant Books & AFL, RRP $39.99.
It is available from Friday, October 25, 2019.
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