Sam Newman recalls how on-field clash saw him lose a kidney and blood supply TWICE as he reaches out to Dustin Martin after Tigers star’s season was ended by similar injury
As soon as Sam Newman heard about Tigers star Dustin Martin’s lacerated kidney from Friday’s match against the Brisbane Lions, he knew exactly what the footballer was going through.
The former Geelong Cats legend and media personality revealed he immediately contacted the AFL superstar in hospital.
Dustin’s serious kidney injury has ruled out the 30-year-old for the remainder of the 2021 AFL season.
‘He suffered a similar fate’: AFL great Sam Newman, 75, says he knows what Dustin Martin, 30, is going through after the Richmond Tigers star suffered a season-ending kidney injury
‘I just wished him well as he suffered a similar fate,’ Newman, 75, told the Herald Sun. ‘I know what he’s going through, his is badly lacerated.’
The former host of The Footy Show said the injury made him reflect on his own experience losing a kidney during his playing days.
Sam, who notched up 300 games for the Cats, lost a kidney during a match in 1967 when he had a heavy collision with Collingwood midfielder Con Britt in the first quarter.
‘I had my blood supply replaced twice and it was touch and go,’ he recalled.
Flashback: Sam, who notched up 300 games for the Cats, lost a kidney during a match in 1967 when he had a heavy collision with Collingwood midfielder Con Britt
‘I kept internally bleeding and they couldn’t stop it,’ Newman continued. ‘I went into the urinal and p***ed pure blood. And at that stage my dear old dad went into a bit of a panic and the ambulance backed up.’
Meanwhile, Dustin is still currently in hospital and won’t be able to do any contact work for three months following his injury.
The three time Norm Smith medallist copped the blow on the field after a lethal clash with Brisbane Lions midfielder and known enforcer Mitch Robinson.
In bad shape: Richmond star Dustin Martin is still in hospital and won’t be able to do any contact work for three months
Richmond ran out with the win for night, beating the Lions by 20 points, but Dustin has since been ruled out for the remainder of the season – a huge loss for the Tigers.
‘He is still up there on the Gold Coast in hospital,’ Richmond’s physical performance manager Peter Burge said.
‘He will probably be released in a couple of days once the specialists give him the all clear and we are looking forward to having him back around the club again soon.’
‘All the guys and staff have been really good and sending him get-well messages and all those sorts of things. He is really appreciative of that, and we look forward to seeing him soon,’ he added.
Horrible: Martin suffered a lacerated kidney after coming off second best in a clash with Brisbane enforcer Mitch Robinson in Richmond’s 20-point win
