Dusty’s happy, back to his best

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has attributed Dustin Martin’s late-season form to the Brownlow medallist being at peace with his own performances.

The premiership coach yesterday indicated Martin, who bagged a swag of individual accolades last year for a nearperfect season, had been weighed down by expectation.

Martin’s form dipped midyear, after a promising start, partly because of a niggling calf complaint. However, the superstar midfielder has roared back into form the past six weeks, helping the Tigers secure five consecutive wins.

Martin was instrumental in getting past traditional rival Essendon last week, with 26 disposals and four goals, including three after halftime.

“We set incredibly high standards and he probably sets them even higher,” Hardwick said. “Once you start trying a little bit too hard things don’t seem to work for you as well.

“He’s probably relaxed, I won’t say that level of expectation, but he’s probably accepted that. He’s starting to play the type of footy we know he can, which is really impressive and at the pointy end of the season it’s very important.”

Martin will get help at the coal face tomorrow with Trent Cotchin and Dion Prestia recalled after minor injury setbacks, along with defender David Astbury.

The Tigers hope to be at full strength in time for the finals with only Dan Butler (ankle) and Kane Lambert (ankle) racing the clock.

Hardwick yesterday challenged the Tigers to rediscover their best form, starting against Western Bulldogs tomorrow, after doing just enough to win in recent weeks.

“I want us to play our best footy,” Hardwick said.

“We’ve been playing OK footy. Have we been playing our best? No, I wouldn’t think so. We’re playing a side that’s going to be hungry to finish off their season in a good way.”