SOME simple guidelines from Richmond assistant coach Mark Williams have helped young star Dustin Martin put his house in order.
Martin is averaging 24.5 possessions per game in 2013 and the Tigers are working hard to sign the out-of-contract 22-year-old to a new deal.
The powerful midfielder gained prominence as a second-year player in 2011, earning a third-placed finish in Richmond's best-and-fairest award.
However in 2012 Martin was equal 10th in the award after a season in which he was suspended by the Tigers for two matches for missing a compulsory training session.
"Dusty knew himself that he had a little bit of growing up to do," Richmond captain Trent Cotchin told Channel Nine's The Footy Show on Thursday night.
"He's put so many things in place now that keep him in check.
"He's been fantastic. He's got a program.
"He sits down with 'Choc' (Williams).
"On his day off it might be four different things that he needs to tick off.
"It might be paying his phone bill and so forth. But he's learnt that having structure in his life is a real good guidance to living the right way."
While Williams has counselled Martin about how to structure his life off the field, Cotchin has been mentoring his former pin-up boy and now teammate Brett Deledio.
Deledio is averaging 23 disposals per game in 2013, compared to 27.5 last year.
The 26-year-old former No.1 draft pick and two-time club champion was held to 21 touches in last week's loss to the Sydney Swans.
"We speak in depth about it every week but more so last week," said Cotchin, who admitted to having a Deledio poster on his wall as a teenager.
"The key to beating a tag is winning your own contested footy and he knows that's an area that he's improved in but still can take it to another level," added Cotchin, 23.
"You feel like you're out there on your own sometimes when you're being tagged, especially against the good ones.
"(Fremantle's) Ryan Crowley is one that stands out."
The Tigers (11-6) are determined to take the scalp of a team above them on the table and Saturday's MCG clash with league leaders Hawthorn is another opportunity.
