Mark Williams explains how he became so close with Richmond star Dustin Martin

AT first glance, Mark Williams and Dustin Martin may not seem a likely pairing. But through their time at Richmond, the two have one of the strongest bonds in the AFL.

Dustin Martin and Mark Williams at Richmond training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

MARK Williams and Dustin Martin would get competitive in the backyard.

Whether they were playing quoits, hitting golf balls from the lawn onto the adjoining golf course, or playing pool, these little games helped lay the platform for their blossoming friendship.

And more often than not, it was a family affair.

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Martin, 26, became a part of the furniture at the Williams household and often the conversation had nothing to do with football.

“We would hit a few balls or have a putting challenge and hang it on each other, and I’m not sure there is anything he can beat me at yet,” Williams says laughing.

A young Dustin Martin with Mark Williams at Richmond training.

“But he would come over and have dinner and watch television and play with my kids for hours.

“My daughter ‘Issy’ probably hadn’t seen anyone with tatts before and she would say ‘what’s this one’ and ‘what’s this one’ and he would explain what they were and what they meant.

“Dust’ has promised her he will get a butterfly one day.

“So he became part of our family, and I don’t drink or smoke or anything like that, but guess what, I said ‘I will care for you’.

“So I got to meet his mum and his grandmother, his aunties and uncles and certainly I met his dad Shane. So they could all see that I had genuine care for him.

“He has huge heart, Dustin and more than anything he is a true and loyal friend.”

On holiday time, Williams would keep in touch, sending regular texts to check in with Martin, making sure he was OK.

“He would send a text back and it might only say ‘yep’, or ‘I’m OK’ and that’s all I needed to know,” he said.

Mark Williams with Dustin Martin. Picture: Simon Cross

“Just keeping the communication open.”

This year, Martin became the most sought after- and No. 1 player in the game as North Melbourne offered him one of the biggest offers in the game’s history to entice him to Arden St.

But he remained loyal to the Tigers and in the process won the Brownlow Medal, after finishing third and seventh in the previous two seasons.

“I think it was pretty special what he did this season but ultimately it was his friendships with guys like Shaun Grigg and Sam Lloyd which kept him at the club,” he said.

Williams said Martin’s work ethic behind the scenes was under played.

“Dustin is a person who loves the carrot in front of them,” Williams said.

“So I said ‘Lets show you Jobe Watson, let’s have a look at Nat Fyfe, and just tease his pride and his ambition. And he has delivered in spades and it was weekly thing.

“It wasn’t just like he turned up. He actually looks at these things and he would say ‘How am I going?’ and ‘What am I doing?’

“We practised for hours on things he wanted to improve. He always wants to get better.”