AFL 2024: Dustin Martin back to Richmond training after head knock

Richmond forward Jacob Koschitzke says Dustin Martin was “popping wheelies” after the Tigers star was cleared of concussion and hit the bikes with teammates on Thursday.

Martin was taken away from the Tigers’ Inverloch camp to get stitches after suffering a cut to his chin in a heavy collision during match simulation on Wednesday.

But the Richmond veteran rejoined the group for part of what Koschitzke called a “gruelling” cycling session on Thursday morning in a team-bonding exercise.

“(Martin) did a bit of cycling and he seemed up and about, so he’s good as gold and we know the champion that he is – he’ll be back in no time,” Koschitzke said.

“I won’t name and shame who the culprit (behind the cut chin) was – (Martin) has been good, he’s been riding around on the bike, popping monos and wheelies, so he’s as good as gold.”

Koschitzke felt he had made a “seamless transition” to the Tigers in the two months since leaving Hawthorn and was benefiting greatly from his existing relationships with new senior coach Adem Yze and assistant Chris Newman, who also crossed over from Hawthorn at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old said the pair had effectively acted as translators to bring him up to speed on the different language Richmond used in meetings.

It has (helped), obviously you’ve got to come to a new environment, I didn’t know any of the players,” Koschitzke said.

“To have those two guys in terms of the coaching structure is has made the transition really easy.

“They’ve been able to explain concepts and relate them to previous Hawthorn terminology and experience, so it’s felt like a pretty seamless sort of transition.”

Tigers spearhead Tom Lynch has not returned to training as he recovers from a fractured foot, but Koschitzke said he had already been a valuable mentor and had been a big reason behind his trade request after 48 games in five seasons at the Hawks.

“He’s been offering me advice … we’re different players with different strengths, but I was picking his brain (on Wednesday) about how best to use my body in one-on-one marking contests and long down-the-lines,” Koschitzke said.

“He’s been really beneficial for my development, and it’s part of the reason why I wanted to come here, I felt like needed that older sort of forward who had learnt the tricks of the trade and done their apprenticeship.

“I didn’t actually get the chance to have that at the Hawks … Mitch Lewis is only (18) months older than myself.

“I felt I just needed someone who really knew the game to give me tips and advice on how to handle adversity and all that stuff that comes along with senior footy.”