“He was just born with a football in his hand and I truly believe that Richmond will win tomorrow and Dustin will live his fairytale at 26.”
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She was spot on.
“I’m confident Richmond can win… you have to be, don’t you? I’m very nervous, but I know Dust will play a big game.”
And that was Martin’s Nan, Lois Knight, also on Friday and she too was proven correct come Saturday.
So big was the game Lois’ grandson played, Martin was awarded the Norm Smith Medal in Richmond’s drought-breaking 48-point AFL grand final win over the Adelaide Crows at the MCG.
“It’s just like a dream,” Kathy said on Sunday.
“It was the best day of my life, apart from giving birth to my three sons.
“It was great to have my boys there with me and there’s just no words to describe how we’re feeling.
“I’m just a very proud mum of all my boys.”
Kathy’s two other sons, Bronson and Tyson, who flew in from Spain for the grand final, were among a contingent of 23 of Martin’s family scattered throughout the MCG as the Tigers won their first premiership since 1980.
Martin, whose football journey has included time spent at Campbells Creek, Castlemaine and the Bendigo Pioneers, capped a historic season with his performance on Saturday.
The 26-year-old has become the first player in the history of the game to complete the trifecta of a premiership, Brownlow Medal and Norm Smith Medal in the one season.
Martin’s grand final week begun on Monday night when he won the Brownlow with a record 36 votes.
“He’s got the lot… we couldn’t be more prouder of him and he was just so happy on Saturday night,” Lois said.
Martin racked up 29 possessions, including 22 contested, and kicked two goals – one late in the second quarter to put the Tigers 10 points up and later Richmond’s last of the match.
Martin’s second-quarter goal came after he used his brute strength to outmark Crow Luke Brown and it was met with an almighty roar from the Tiger Army.
“I got up and was heading to the toilet when that happened, but the roar was just massive,” Lois said.
“There was a TV on the way to the loo and when I saw a replay of it, I said to another bloke who was there, ‘that’s my grandson’.
“He then hugged me and swung me around… it was just amazing.”
As for their favourite Martin moment on grand final day, Lois says she can’t pick one over another, while for Kathy it was after the game.
“Just to be able to see him hold the cup and seeing how happy he was… it was just priceless,” she said.
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