Dustin Martin to debut for Tigers

Updated November 7 2012 - 3:36am, first published March 24 2010 - 10:43am
IMPRESSIVE: Dustin Martin at training yesterday.
IMPRESSIVE: Dustin Martin at training yesterday.

FORMER Castlemaine and Bendigo Pioneers midfielder Dustin Martin will make his AFL debut for Richmond tonight.Martin was last night named on a wing in the Tigers’ side to tackle arch-rival Carlton at the MCG.Taken with selection three in last November’s national draft, the 18-year-old has impressed throughout his first pre-season at Punt Road.A standout performance in Richmond’s first NAB Cup game against Hawthorn all but sealed his place in the Tigers’ team for round one.Martin is one of four players to make their debut for the Tigers tonight.Fellow draftee Ben Nason and rookie list draftee Relton Roberts were named to make their AFL debut, while former Port Adelaide defender Mitch Farmer will also play his first game for the Tigers. But it is the second, third and fourth year players that new Tiger coach Damien Hardwick has earmarked as those who need to improve for the Tigers to ensure no more wasted time at a club that has frittered away three decades. The ex-Port Adelaide and Hawthorn assistant believes the improvement of players like Jack Riewoldt and fringe dwellers Tom Hislop and Adam Thomson from their time under ex-coach Terry Wallace is how he and his new team of assistants should be initially judged.“Those are the guys we’re expecting to become better players, and that’s the measure of our coaching as well,” Hardwick said. “If we can do that, we become a better side a hell of a lot quicker.“We’ve put a lot of work into those guys over the summer. “It’s the emergence of players we need to come forward - Hislop, Thomson, (Daniel) Jackson, those type of players.“The first round players - you’re always excited to see them out there - but I’m not expecting a great deal from them. “It’s the emergence of (Jack) Riewoldt and those sorts of players that we’re really looking forward to see how they go.” Ben Cousins has overcome a mystery stomach complaint, which hospitalised him, and will play tonight. “He’s right to go. He’s had four training sessions since his illness, and he’s looked really good,” Hardwick said. “We’re very happy with the way he’s headed.”

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