We’re not scared of the stare
Tigers star makes light of Crows’ pre- game posturing
DUSTIN Martin has declared that Richmond will not be daunted if Adelaide attempt another national anthem stare- down in Saturday’s grand final.
The Crows have stood to attention during the anthem in every final so far, evenly spaced apart and staring directly at their opponents until they break away in a move that has drawn comparisons with the haka engaged by New Zealand’s national rugby outfit the All Blacks.
The Brownlow Medallist said yesterday the Tigers will not be put off by any pre- game strategy.
“No, I don’t think it’ll be intimidating,” Martin said.
“Once the ball is bounced, we’ll worry about winning the footy. That’s the plan, so it won’t bother us.”
Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs said yesterday that it was “based around focus”.
“If people want to look into it and the other teams want to be worrying about that at that stage of the game, it is just about us respecting the national anthem and getting a good focus on what we’re about to do,” he said on SEN radio in Melbourne.
Jacobs also dismissed the “blink first” theory that the team would not move until the other team did, while teammate Rory Laird recently said it was the brainchild of skipper Taylor Walker and the leadership group.
Martin left his Brownlow Medal at home yesterday as he took part in a training session with teammates, who had earlier lauded his efforts.
Overwhelmed by the ongoing attention, Martin said that the medal’s home might lie with his mum, Kathy.
“I left it at home ( yesterday), it’s just on my bedside table,” he said. “I’ll probably give it to mum and she can have it at her place, I reckon.”
And if the Tigers can salute against the Crows on Saturday, there could be some more ink on the cards for the superstar. “Yeah, definitely,” he said. The 26- year- old said he was yet to really think about Saturday’s clash, but as the game grew closer he would “start to get nervous, but really excited as well”.
He said that he had never held any doubt as to Richmond’s chances this season, saying off- season changes and a “refreshing” feeling meant that “on day one ( of preseason) as soon as I got here, I knew we were in for a good year”.
And he said the team was holding fast to its “why not” mentality.
“When we made the top four, it was like, ‘ Why can’t it be us?’,” Martin said. “We’re really looking forward to it.
“We’ve worked extremely hard together and given ourselves the best opportunity, so we’re just looking forward to it.”
Martin received the medal from last year’s winner Patrick Dangerfield and said he had heard from another previous Brownlow Medallist since the victory.
“I had a few missed calls from Swanny ( Dane Swan) at about 5am,” he smiled.
“I’ve had a lot of messages of support, which have been good.”
A call to dad Shane, who watched the count from Auckland after immigration laws were changed to uphold his deportation for links to the Rebels’ motorcycle club, was also one of the first he made.
“I gave dad a ring straight away. He’s super proud,” he said.