AFL star Dustin ‘Dusty’ Martin reveals what he really thinks about his bad boy image in rare interview – and admits he battled with his mental health after Richmond’s 2017 premiership win
Dustin ‘Dusty’ Martin has shared his thoughts on his bad boy image in an interview in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine.
The AFL star, who plays for Richmond, told the magazine that he ‘doesn’t care’ what people think of him, but admits he’s ‘imperfect’.
The 29-year-old said: ‘I don’t know if I’m misunderstood or not. I just keep trying to be the best person I can.
Not perfect: Dustin ‘Dusty’ Martin (pictured) has shared his thoughts on his bad boy image in an interview in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine. The AFL star, who plays for Richmond, told the magazine that he ‘doesn’t care’ what people think of him, but admits he’s ‘imperfect’
‘People are quick to pass judgement on one another, but you never really know what people are going through or have been through.’
The athlete added: ‘We are all imperfect, we are all living and learning, and I just try to do my best every day.’
Dusty, who rarely gives interviews, candidly discussed his mental health and went on to say that he suffered a period of ‘the blues’ after Richmond’s 2017 Grand Final win.
The 29-year-old said: ‘I don’t know if I’m misunderstood or not. I just keep trying to be the best person I can. People are quick to pass judgement on one another, but you never really know what people are going through or have been through’
‘I think most people at some stage in their lives go through a similar thing,’ he told the magazine.
‘I just think it’s important to be open and honest, and talk about your feelings with someone’.
In order to help him work through those feelings, Dusty says he practices mindfulness and keeps a journal.
Up and down: Dusty says he suffered a period of ‘the blues’ after Richmond’s 2017 Grand Final win. ‘I just think it’s important to be open and honest, and talk about your feelings with someone’ he said, adding that he practices mindfulness and keeps a journal
Hailing from Castlemaine in Victoria, Dustin made his big AFL debut in 2010 and has won three premierships with the Tigers. He also won the Brownlow Medal in 2017.
He made headlines in 2019 when he famously ditched his car at the Melbourne Cricket Ground car park for 65 days while celebrating Richmond’s 2019 grand final win.
The MCG allowed the star to leave his car there from the September 28 game through to the end of the year after he ran out of time to collect it between celebrating the win and boarding a plan to Las Vegas for a post-season holiday.
Read more: In this week’s Stellar with Dustin on the cover