“Really hit home”: Dusty’s wise words for Tiger cubs

Some wise words from a lived Dustin Martin experience helped Richmond’s youngsters keep things in perspective in the lead-up to last weekend’s season-first win.

The Tigers ended a seven-game 2026 winless run - and 12 overall - when they beat West Coast by 11 points at Optus Stadium on Saturday.

Six players - Sam Cumming, Sam Grlj, Tom Burton, Patrick Retschko, Campbell Gray and Oliver Hayes-Brown - were in the circle celebrating and singing ‘Oh we’re from Tigerland’ for the first time at senior level.

Some could be forgiven for feeling a little impatient prior to ticking off that elusive victory, but there was a message of persistence from the club legend which helped greatly.

Premiership teammate Tom Lynch revealed that a club visit from Dusty had the Tiger cubs feeling at ease given it took the legend 10 games to break his duck under Damien Hardwick.

“It was interesting when Dustin came in during the week and had a bit of an interview with the group,” Lynch said on SEN Breakfast.

“He said his first year they didn't win until Round 10, in Dimma’s first year.

“I think it really hit home with the young guys thinking, ‘Wow, that's Dustin Martin, they didn't win until Round 10’.

“The young boys were pretty shocked at that, that that happened.

“Throughout your career, you go through (down times). If you're lucky enough to be Joel Selwood where you just win every week. But you're going to spend time down the bottom of the ladder and you've just got to keep working hard, staying together as a group, and keep believing in the system.”

Assistant coach and former club captain Chris Newman has been facilitating some legendary interviews at Punt Road to bring old and new together.

Lynch said it was the presence of Martin, who achieved it all in the game, that had the club's emerging stars in awe.

“We just got him in. Chris Newman has organised a couple of past players, we had Francis Bourke come in and Seth Campbell actually interviewed him,” Lynch added.

“It's just good development for the young guys. Taj Hotton interviewed Dustin and it was a quick conversation, it was just 15 minutes, but Dustin was awesome. He just spoke about the journey and ways he got better, how it took him a while to get to know how to be the best player and the evolution you go through.

“It was really a lot of things we’ve been trying to tell the young guys. It’s like when your parents tell you something, you don't listen to them. But Dusty came in and they're all eyes and they're all really keen to hear.

“It really just rammed home a lot of things we’re trying to enforce on the young group.”

Garry Lyon felt it would be such a powerful message for the youth to hear.

“So you look at that, and these guys are thinking this is not how AFL footy should be,” said Lyon.

“But then you go, ‘No, this is one of the all-timers’. He had to wait longer than you guys on the back of what you've done on the weekend.

“That's a great message. And then he went up and played in Port Douglas and kicked a couple of snags. He looked in pretty good nick.”

Lynch added: “Yeah, he's pretty fit at the moment. That's one thing he spoke about, he loves his training, keeps fit.

“I think he enjoyed it up there.”

Martin is set to suit up again at local level, confirming he’ll play for Clarence in the SFL Premier League in Tassie next month.

The Tigers will be intent on making it two wins on the trot when they host Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday.