RICHMOND megastar Dustin Martin insists he’s fit for Saturday’s AFL grand final and is ready for whatever the physical Giants bring.
Martin dismissed the leg injury suffered in the Tigers’ preliminary final win over Geelong and said he was ready to fire in the premiership showdown with GWS at the MCG .
The 28-year-old was at his most dangerous in the Tigers’ qualifying final win over Brisbane, kicking six goals, but his game time against the Cats was restricted by a corked leg.
It forced him to the bench in the first half but Martin said it was nothing serious.
“It was just a little knock,” Martin said ahead of the annual AFL grand final parade.
The Brownlow Medallist looked hurt in last year’s losing preliminary final against Collingwood but said he felt fresh this time around.
“I always have little niggles here and there. It’s good to be a bit fresher,” he said.
While Martin cancelled a media appearance early in the week and was only willing to answer a couple of questions before the parade started, he said he was in a good head space playing in his second grand final in three years.
He was central to Richmond’s 2017 triumph over Adelaide, with 29 touches and two goals.
“I’m feeling a bit more relaxed because I’ve been here before and know what to expect and I’m just enjoying the moment,” the midfield ace said.
Until the shock announcement his Tigers teammate Marlion Pickett would make his AFL debut in the grand final, Martin had been the focus of attention.
He’s sure to be a focus for GWS and their chief tagger Matt de Boer.
The Giants stopper has claimed some big scalps this season, including that of a frustrated Martin, who he held to only 15 disposals in their round three clash.
It was Martin’s second-lowest possession count in a game this season, while he was also suspended for striking Adam Kennedy off the ball and fined for flipping the bird, as well as making snorting gestures at Giants ruckman Shane Mumford.
There was no rematch when Richmond beat GWS at the MCG in Round 17, because de Boer was out for two months with a shoulder injury.
Martin didn’t want to comment on match-up.
© AAP 2019
