AFL 2021: Dustin Martin aiming to rebuild powerful frame after massive weight drop from injury

Dustin Martin is recovering from shocking weight loss after kidney surgery. See how the Tigers superstar is tracking for pre-season and what it means for his footy comeback.

Richmond superstar Dustin Martin is on a delicate weight regain mission after losing as much as 10kg in the wake of his season-ending kidney injury.

News Corp can reveal Martin dropped from 91kg to about 81kg in the weeks after the bone-crunching collision with Brisbane Lions’ Mitch Robinson that lacerated his kidney.

Martin, 30, spent nine days in a Gold Coast hospital and was on a fruit-only cleansing diet for about two weeks to help with his recovery.

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Fruit diets are a common technique used to treat kidney trauma and help re-cleanse the body.

But it stripped 10kg of muscle and bulk from the three-time Norm Smith medallist, who recently resumed light running and will make a full recovery in time for pre-season.

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Dustin Martin grimaces in pain as he comes off with a kidney injury at Metricon Stadium in Round 18. Picture: Michael Klein

Martin is certain to play in Round 1 against Carlton in the traditional MCG season-opener.

Tigers’ medicos are pleased with Martin’s progress so far and are confident he will be back to his best by the start of the new season.

However, it understood Martin, who is meticulous in his preparation and training, is considering unveiling a slightly lighter frame for the 2022 season.

Martin has discussed being one or two kilograms below his standard playing weight.

He is widely considered the most powerful midfielder in the competition but the lighter figure could help bolster his speed and running power for the new season as the Tigers try and re-enter the eight in 2022 and shoot for a fourth flag in six seasons.

While Martin has already regained about two kilograms, he has been warned against piling on too much weight back on too quickly.

Martin bent over with pain following the bone-crunching collision with Brisbane Lions’ Mitch Robinson. Picture: Michael Klein

Richmond’s medical team and strength and conditioning staff are supporting their champion through a steady comeback to full fitness.

Athletes who suffer kidney injuries must avoid contact training for several months.

Martin’s match simulation training is expected to ramp up after Christmas but he will be fine to increase his running, cross training and ball work in the coming weeks.

Martin has been incredibly durable throughout his glittering career, playing at least 20 games in each of his first 11 seasons.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said it burned Martin to miss out on the second half of the season as Richmond missed the finals for the first time in five years.

Dustin Martin is considering unveiling a lighter frame in 2022.

But the Tigers’ premiership coach said the club was confident Martin would make a full recovery from the severe injury.

“He’s a very strong lad, Dustin, as you can imagine, but he’s certainly a lot sorer than he thought he would be,” Hardwick said.

“It’s a significant injury, which is why he won’t play football for the remainder of the year, but he’s in good spirits.

“The one thing that I will say about Dustin is mentally he handles these things very well.

“He does a lot of work in that space, so he‘s in as good a place as he can be at present.”

Originally published as AFL 2021: Dustin Martin aiming to rebuild powerful frame after massive weight drop from injury