Dustin Martin wants his father Shane to be allowed back in Australia for Brownlow night

BROWNLOW night will be awkward if Patrick Dangerfield presents the medal to Dustin Martin. But it will be a lot more awkward for Martin if his father isn’t there at all, writes MARK ROBINSON.

Dustin Martin of the Tigers in action.

UNQUESTIONABLY, there will be an awkwardness if Patrick Dangerfield polls the most votes and, as the previous winner, has to present Dustin Martin with the 2017 Brownlow Medal.

But it will pass quickly enough on the night.

So will the popular belief it will be awkward for Martin if he has to answer questions from Bruce McAvaney during his acceptance speech.

Martin is said to be not media savvy, but that’s not entirely true. Simply, Martin doesn’t like the media and how sections of it have portrayed him over the years, not least through the chopsticks controversy. So he avoids it.

The fact is Martin is no longer the shy boy from Castlemaine and, at 26, is much more confident in himself and in front of others. Martin’s speech, if he wins, could be one for the ages.

LATEST:

TIGER ARMY MARCHES INTO GRAND FINAL

AFL GRAND FINAL 2017: HOW TO BUY TICKETS

SOUVENIR EDITION: More than 15 pages of coverage in your Sunday Herald Sun

MEMO DUSTY: SIX TIPS FOR A BRILLIANT BROWNLOW SPEECH

It won’t as eloquent and effervescent as Dangerfield’s last year. Nor as professional as Chris Judd or Gary Ablett. And it won’t even be as knockabout as the speech made by his great mate Dane Swan.

It will be raw and down to earth. The rawness of Martin is the beauty of Martin. He was a kid from central Victoria who left school, played footy and who became “Dusty’’, the most famous Dusty since Springfield and Slim.

On Brownlow Medal night, McAvaney will be charged with eliciting from Martin a story of a hardy family, a bikie dad, tribal tattoos, incredible personal development and a subliminal gift to play Australian rules.

There’s three aspects of Martin’s life we’ve come to know.

He loves his dad. He loves children and vice-versa. And Trent Cotchin loves Martin.

Dustin Martin’s father Shane (right) was deported to New Zealand.

Maybe it’s an attitude borne from his dad, but people close to Martin talk of his unyielding loyalty.

This quality was proven with the 26-year-old committing to being a Tiger for life after sacrificing more than $2 million and ending year-long speculation.

The new seven-year deal ties him to Punt Rd until the end of 2024.

When Shane Martin — Martin’s father — was deported to New Zealand and Martin made a television plea to the Australian Government to allow him to return, he spoke of brotherhoods. “Just because he was in a club doesn’t mean he has done anything wrong,’’ Martin said. “I am in a footy club, he is in a bikie club, they join, get together and go for rides.’’

If Martin wins the medal, his dad, at this stage, won’t be there to celebrate it.

The question is: Should Shane Martin be allowed back into Australia for one night only to see his son be honoured with the most cherished individual award in football?

The AFL told the Herald Sun it would not have an issue if Martin’s father was to attend.

The Tigers would be willing to help Martin go through the necessary processes to try to make it happen because they believe in the saying: If you don’t ask, you never know.

Of course, Shane Martin was deported for a reason.

He was flown to New Zealand by the Government in April, 2016, after Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said he failed to meet the minimum character requirements to remain in Australia.

Shane Martin is a former top-ranking official with the Rebels motorcycle gang. “We are at war with outlaw motorcycle gangs because they are distributing drugs across society and they’re involved in serious crime,’’ Dutton said.

“Outlaw motorcycle gangs should hear the message clearly that we’re going to continue this operation until we can wipe out outlaw motorcycle gangs.

“They are causing misery to mums and dads who have teenage children who are buying drugs from outlaw motorcycle gang members.’’

Dustin Martin is hot favourite to win the Brownlow Medal.

Shane Martin said in December 2016: “I’m not a threat to Australia. I’ve never been in trouble in my life ... except for trivial things and that was a long time ago. I’m finished with the Rebels and I have been way before they came and arrested me. Never been to jail … I’ve got history, you know, but it’s not indictable.”

The Tigers star made his public plea in February this year.

“I wake up every day hoping to get a phone call from Dad saying, ‘Guess what, I’m coming back’,” Martin told Channel 9.

“He hasn’t done anything wrong. If he was a criminal I’d cop it, but they’ve just taken him away for association.”

The greatest influence on Martin’s life has been his father and it’s why the Tigers have allowed him to fly to New Zealand at least three times this season.

Could the Turnbull Government cut the Martins some slack?

Clearly, it’s worth pursuing from Martin’s side, despite the prospects of success being grim.

As for it being awkward on Brownlow night, Martin has to avoid incurring another fine on the field in the remaining four rounds or he, too, will be suspended and ruled ineligible for the award.

Popular belief has Martin ahead of Dangerfield, who can’t win it, and the two of them at least 10 or 12 votes ahead of the next player.

If Martin was to become ineligible, the player with the third-most votes would be crowned the best player.

That would be awkward and it’s why rules of eligibility for winning the medal will surely be looked at by the AFL at the end of the season.