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All About Dustin Martin
Dusty was born in Castlemaine, Victoria on June 26, 1991. He began playing footy at age six and was drafted by the Richmond Tigers in 2009 to debut the following year.
He became widely famous in 2017 when he had the honour of receiving the well-deserved Brownlow medal, which is the most honourable award you can receive in the AFL! He was also given the Leigh Matthews Trophy, the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award, and the Norm Smith Medal.
He’s Got The Stats To Go With Those Tatts
His signature style is described as “untackle-able” since he’s frequently seen dodging opponents left and right. We wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes the number one AFL player in the near future! His signature move called “don’t argue” is a fan-favourite and has become so popular that he made official signed memorabilia featuring the phrase.
Rebel With A Cause
Sometimes, Dusty can get a bit heated and has recently made the news with his notorious in-game behaviour. Back in 2015, he had a bit of a drunken scandal that involved threatening to stab a woman with chopsticks at a Japanese restaurant.
Despite the occasional profane gestures and controversy, he remains one of the most skilled players in the league. He has since apologised on Twitter for his incidents on and off the field.
What Does Dustin Martin’s Tattoo Say?
Dustin’s impressive collection of tattoos starts from his neck all the way down to his legs. Some of his most notable and meaningful pieces are his neck tattoo and his hand tattoos.
His ink mostly features classic Chicano-style grayscale artwork inspired by the US artist Boog Star. It’s been estimated that his ink costs a total of AUD$15,000. Let’s dive into the details!
“Live Free. Die Free”
Written in black, cursive script, this tattoo was inspired by a saying shared between him and his dad. It’s the first of two matching pieces that he has with his father. Dusty confesses in an interview by Pedestrian that he had this done when he was only 16!
“Ngati Mauru” & “Matai Whetu”
Dusty pays tribute to his Maori heritage with his most popular set of tattoos. The right side of Dustin’s neck tattoo has the words “Ngati Mauru” which is the name of his extended family’s Maori tribe in New Zealand.
On the left side of his neck are the words “Matai Whetu” which refer to their ancestral meeting place. The meaningful inscriptions are also tattoos on other members of his family including his dad and his nana!
“Live Life”
Dustin is all about living life to the fullest and he doesn’t hold back! While shooting for the men’s underwear brand in a Bonds ad, Dusty mentions in the interview that his personal favourite tattoos are on his knuckles. He shared that they remind him to enjoy himself and not take things too seriously.
Tattooed From Head To Toe
After the first few tatts, Dustin decided to expand his ink to his arms and legs. His tattoo sleeves started with skulls on his hands and arms, while his legs are still a work in progress. You can see a classic blend of female portraits, cash, clowns, roses, calligraphy scripts, and roman numerals of his very own birthday.
Dustin’s trusted Australian artist is Arn Lyons of Oculus Tattoo based in Thornberry and Collingwood. He stated in a Pedestrian interview that he usually just walks in and spontaneously picks a design on the day itself! Dusty also admitted that he can’t really deal with the pain and can only do two hours per session.
Heavily-Inked And Heavily-Loved
In Dusty’s case, tattoos perfectly compliment his rebellious style, his love for his family, and his dedication to the game. He’s got more than a dozen tattoos and counting, and it seems like he isn’t stopping anytime soon!
Dustin Martin is beloved by football fans and fellow players alike. There are even some kids like Little Dusty who have expressed their love and support by dressing up just like him – tatts included!
Conclusion
Getting inked is an act of courage and a rite of passage! Sometimes we get tattoos because they mean something to us, and sometimes we get them because just because they look cool. For Dusty, it’s a little bit of both and we can’t wait to see what he gets next!
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