Ben Cousins has heaped praise on Dustin Martin ahead of his 300th game
Ben Cousins, a close friend of 300-gamer Dustin Martin, has detailed the “enormous impression” the Tiger champion made on him.
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Former teammate Ben Cousins has penned a glowing tribute to Dustin Martin on the eve of the Richmond champion’s 300th AFL game.
Martin arrived at Punt Road via the 2009 national draft and his first season in the AFL coincided with Cousins’ second and final year with the Tigers.
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Cousins’ checkered AFL career featured 238 games, a Brownlow Medal and a premiership with West Coast before he was banned by the league for the 2008 season following an arrest for drug possession and refusing a blood test.
Once he was allowed to compete again, Cousins was picked up by Richmond in the 2008 pre-season draft and when he linked up with the Tigers, he was instantly struck by the shy, quiet draft pick.
“The final two years of my AFL career came with an unexpected bonus when Dustin ‘Dusty’ Martin arrived at Punt Road late in 2009 for pre-season training,” Cousins wrote in a column for 7NEWS.
“I could easily bang on about the enormous impression he made on me right from the get-go, as he was simply doing things on-field I’d never seen before from a first-year player.
“Fifteen seasons later and on the eve of game 300, this quiet kid forever let his football do the talking and it only got louder.
“A lot has been said of his incredible career but staying true to yourself throughout a lengthy journey has impressed me just as much.
“Big kudos for a kid who just loved his footy, had a bucketload of belief and, fortunately for him, a willingness to overcome some unforeseen obstacles.”
Like Cousins, Martin battled off-field issues during his 15 seasons in the AFL, but overcame it all to stand as one of the greats of the sport.
The 32-year-old won the Norm Smith Medal in all three of Richmond’s premierships during his time at Punt Road, along with four All-Australian awards and two club best and fairest nods.
Martin has also shunned publicity, including a refusal to do undertake any media appearances in the build-up to Saturday’s clash with Hawthorn, when he will become the 104th player to chalk up 300 games.
Cousins, who formed a close friendship with the Richmond champion, credited the man known universally as “Dusty” for staying true to himself across his glittering career.
“Every young player enters the AFL world with a lot of growing up to do and even knowing who you really are can sometimes be confusing,” the 45-year-old wrote.
“It’s not easy to stay authentic in a cutthroat industry where everyone has their say, at the mercy of a system that can often prey on those yet to prove themselves a product of the establishment.
“I can imagine at times there’s been internal anguish, struggles and pressure to ‘conform’ that carries a significant weight not lost on me.
“This is a gruelling sport which leaves you physically and emotionally spent on a weekly basis.
“Throw in additional levels of expectation, popularity and never-ending scrutiny it can sometimes make one feel like you’re fighting the fight on all fronts, and speaking from experience, it can also be lonely.
“This storyline could’ve read somewhat different without the staunch support of the Tiger army. The alliance that developed between he and his guardians is unbreakable.
“Yes, there’s an argument to suggest that success brings responsibility and access on all fronts, but if that’s not your thing why should we push someone down a path of duplicity?
“For Dusty to reach 300 games under a spotlight of unsought attention is testament to his passion of just wanting to play the game he still loves.”
Cousins also compared Martin to some other modern-day greats that preferred to avoid the spotlight.
“He’s become an icon of this game (just ask any kid) who, in my opinion, has already given back more through his on-field deeds than anyone could give in appearance value.
“Other icons of the game like Tony Lockett, Gary Ablett Sr and more recently Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin have also preferred privacy over self-praise and fanfare so surely there’s room for him in that shelter too.
“I have the utmost admiration for the way Dustin Martin has handled himself throughout his career.
“He entered the arena with a ‘don’t argue’ and has kept delivering ever since.
“Perhaps that’s a fitting phrase for us all to ponder on another level.
“For me personally, it’s important to be at this milestone game to share in the celebration of an outstanding man and his ever-supportive football club.
“And I for one don’t expect another miracle performance on this particular big day. Just enjoy it, my good friend, you’ve earned it.”
It has been a difficult season for the Tigers, picking up just two wins from 13 matches to date.
One of those victories was against the ladder-leading Swans, the only team to beat Sydney so far in 2024, while they are also coming off an upset win against the Crows in Adelaide.
The Tigers will be desperate to salute their champion midfielder at the MCG as he takes his 300th bow.
Originally published as Ben Cousins has heaped praise on Dustin Martin ahead of his 300th game
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