Dustin Martin's emotional AFL Brownlow Medal tribute nearly reduced his dad to tears.
Parents Shane and Kathy were the first people Martin thanked in his acceptance speech and he is especially close to his father.
Kathy lives in country Victoria and regularly visits Melbourne to watch her son play.
But Shane was deported to New Zealand last year because of his links to the Rebels motorcycle gang.
It meant he could not be in Melbourne for the Brownlow or Saturday's grand final against Adelaide.
"Obviously mum and dad, you've always supported me with my footy and I couldn't have gotten here with you both, I'm so grateful for everything you've done for me," Martin said.
"I know it's tough for you (Shane) not being here this week, but I know how much you love me and I love you very much."
Dustin plans to visit Auckland in the next few weeks to see his dad.
Shane kept up to date with the Brownlow count in Auckland and is rapt with the win.
"I'm pretty proud, pretty emotional," he told the Herald Sun
"I was trying to hold back tears. It's pretty hard, but a very proud moment."
Dustin left school when he was 14 and went to work for his father.
"I wasn't a fan of school - I probably should have stayed in school, because I worked a heap of shitty jobs after that," he said.
"He (Shane) said if I wasn't in school, he was going to work me hard."
Martin, his manager Ralph Carr and Shane also had a meeting a few years ago, where the Tigers star was told to improve his off-field lifestyle.
"I was just a young bloke who liked to play up every now and again," he said.
"I'm sure Ralph and my old man were sick of it.
"They told me to pull my head in, otherwise they weren't going to help me any more.
"Ever since then I've pulled in my head a little bit."
Kathy is among several relatives who regularly watch her son play and one of his brothers is returning from Barcelona for Saturday's grand final against Adelaide.
But Dustin also was unimpressed with his mum after she spoke to a journalist.
"I was pretty filthy on her because I told her not to talk to any media," he said, adding it took a couple of days to forgive Kathy.
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