Martin makes his Richmond AFL return

For both Richmond and Dustin Martin, the sleep might do them good.

So says Tigers skipper Chris Newman, who believes both his AFL side and their errant midfielder will learn from their recent costly mistakes.

Richmond are still smarting from what has been labelled “the worst 47 seconds in footy” after falling asleep late to concede two goals and lose by two points to Gold Coast last weekend.

And rising star Martin is set to return to action with the Tigers against North Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday after a club-imposed two-match suspension for taking sleeping pills, sleeping in and missing training.

Martin didn’t face media on Thursday, instead admitting via Richmond’s website he let the club down with what he called “a stupid mistake”.

“It was pretty hard. I was just really disappointed in myself that I let the whole club down – all the boys and the coaches,” Martin said.

“It was tough to sit in front of them and face them but I’ve learned a lot from it.”

It was left to Newman to face media questioning over Martin, saying the 21-year-old was “fresh and fit” after missing two matches and importantly had absorbed the lessons he needed to.

“In his own mind, he knows he’s let himself down, and the team comes off the back of that,” Newman said on Thursday.

“He’s done everything right over the last couple of weeks. He has learned from it, I think.

“It’s up to us to get around him, give him a cuddle and get behind him and make sure we play some good footy.”

The Tigers have been both mocked and forensically examined over their late fadeout against Gold Coast, which handed the Suns the chance to win the match through Karmichael Hunt’s heroic post-siren goal.

But the images of stumbling, bumbling Tigers making a comical series of errors late in the match are something Newman believes have been addressed, and that his players will learn from going into the Kangaroos game.

“It’s very important (to bounce back). We were very disappointed with our efforts on the weekend,” Newman said.

“I was shattered … we had the game in our hands and let it go.

“It’s disappointing to lose at this stage in the season, but it’s not the end of this. We’ve got this week to bounce back.”

Newman conceded the Tigers faced their last chance against North, and if they didn’t beat the in-form Kangaroos, their finals hopes were over.

The Kangaroos are coming off a 53-point win over Carlton last weekend and have won four of their past five games.

Richmond are also set to regain ruckman Ivan Maric from injury and experienced midfielder Daniel Jackson, who missed the past two matches through an AFL Tribunal suspension.

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