Thursday, 20 September 2018:
 | | DUSTIN MARTIN of the Tigers celebrates kicking a goal during the AFL match between the Richmond Tigers and the Carlton Blues at MCG in Melbourne, Australia. | |
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Dustin Martin's legs are home to some of the most recognisable tattoos in the AFL but they were off-limits on Thursday as he recovers from a "significant corkie".
The speculation around Martin's fitness ascended to a higher plane on Thursday when the Brownlow Medallist trained in full-length skins.
One non-football Richmond staffer worryingly remarked they'd never seen the Tigers champion in leggings through his nine-year career.
Could they be hiding strapping that shows Martin is in doubt for their preliminary final on Friday night against Collingwood.
Or could it all be a ruse?
The mutterings among Richmond fans at their open training session were a sign of just how tense the atmosphere has become at Punt Road.
Yes, the premiers should be good enough to beat their fierce rivals and book a place in the grand final.
Yes, the speculation is ridiculous.
But yes, Martin is the Tigers' genuine game-changer, and his availability and fitness is critical to the biggest preliminary final in a generation.
Shane Edwards was adamant Martin would be fine to take his place, saying there was "no doubt" over the 27-year-old's place.
"He's alright. He had a corkie and he trained fine today," he said.
Martin moved well at the half-hour light session on Friday morning, but didn't join the majority of the squad for goalkicking practice at the end.
Instead, he partnered with skipper Trent Cotchin for ball work and movement exercises.
Edwards saw the funny side in the interest in Martin's health, which heightened on the weekend when he missed a training session.
Martin's All-Australian teammate said the media-dodging superstar would be oblivious to the off-field furore.
"I'm not sure he even knows what's going on. He'll be going out there with a fresh mind," Edwards said.
"He's a big boy. He'll go out the same as usual, whether he's wearing skins or not."
