Footy great Trent Cotchin reveals why he wanted NOTHING to do with superstar Dustin Martin off the field when they first became teammates

Retired Richmond captain Trent Cotchin has admitted he once wanted nothing to do with his good friend and ex-Tigers teammate Dustin Martin off the pitch.

Cotchin, who led the club to three flags during his time at Punt Road, says he always saw himself as a ‘cleanskin’ and a friendship with opposite badboy Martin just didn’t seem likely.

‘It’s a bit black and white. The tattoo guy with a bit of attitude comes across as if he doesn’t care about anything or anyone in the world,” Cotchin explained to Sarah Grynberg on the radio. A Life of Greatness podcast.

“And then I’m the other guy trying to make everyone happy, with no tattoos and pretty clear skin. Less partying.

“And when he first came in, it looked like he had the tattoo that was on the back of all Ben Cousins’ stuff.

The Tigers teammates have formed an unlikely friendship over their time together

“I think Dusty said, ‘Live free, die free,’ and ‘Cuzzy’ clearly had ‘that’s life’ on his stomach.

“So he was already covered in this bad boy brush, which I honestly didn’t want to be associated with.

“It wasn’t that I distanced myself or didn’t talk to him in the early stages of his career, but it was just like, oh, we’re different, he’s obviously got great talent and we’ll be great friends. on the football field, but outside of it we will wait and see.’

Cotchin says the better he got to know Martin, the more he liked him.

“Going through that process of learning about him, his backstory and the relationship we built, I can’t imagine living the life he lived growing up compared to mine,” Cotchin said.

Martin’s father, Shane ‘Kiwi’ Martin, was found dead on the floor of his bedroom in Mt Maunganui, 200km south-east of Auckland, in December 2021.

Martin was a senior member of Sydney’s Rebels motorcycle gang but was deported to New Zealand in 2016 on ‘bad character’ grounds, despite having spent most of his adult life in Australia.

He was heartbroken at being cut off from his son Dustin, who was unable to visit him in New Zealand at the time of his death due to Covid travel restrictions.

Cotchin says he met Martin’s father (pictured right) before he died and that the ex-bike made him feel safer in his own home

Cotchin (pictured with Martin after the 2020 AFL final) says he has built a great friendship with Martin, who he says has led a life he couldn’t imagine

Cotchin remembers meeting Shane once when Dustin had moved in with him and his wife Brooke.

“I’ll also never forget the day his old man came over because Shane was a huge Maori man, with tattoos all over his face and body, so quite a scary and intimidating character,” he said.

“But for whatever reason, when he came into our home, I felt so much safer in my own home.”

While the couple lived together, they became very good friends. Cotchin explained that he saw a spiritual side of Martin that most people wouldn’t believe.

“I really hope that at some point in his life he delves deeper into his whole story,” Cotchin said.

Cotchin became Richmond’s captain ahead of the 2013 season, aged just 22.

He would lead the Tigers to their first premiership in 37 years, the 2017 grand final victory over Adelaide.

Cotchin would certify himself as a Richmond immortal when he led the Tigers to more flags in 2019 and 2020.