Once a shy, skinny kid from country Victoria, Dustin Martin was selected as the third pick in the 2009 AFL Draft. There he began a nearly 15-year career at the club, cementing himself as more than a Richmond legend, but a legend of the game.
Last week Martin decided to hang up the boots, and what a career it’s been. The statistics and accolades are unmatchable, with 338 career goals, three premierships, three Norm Smith medals and a prestigious Brownlow Medal.
But it’s not just the numbers and accolades that make Dusty an all-time great. It’s the moments. Breaking the Tigers’ 37-year premiership drought with a best-on-ground performance in the 2017 Grand Final was an all-time highlight. All Richmond fans can still hear him yelling “YELLOW AND BLACK” in his postgame speech accepting the Norm Smith medal, after 29 disposals and a pair of goals.
And that’s what it was always about for Dusty. The yellow and black. He is a Tiger for life, seeing the club through struggles in the early 2010s, but he put his faith in the club. This faith allowed him to quickly become the main man of a triple-premiership dynasty at Punt Road.
His reputation of being a game-changer is certainly deserved, as there is no shortage of examples where he single-handedly broke open the contest. None bigger than the 2020 Grand Final against the Geelong Cats, where the Tigers trailed by 21 points near halftime. Then, something seemingly clicked within Dusty.
A moment of individual brilliance. One of his patented ‘don’t argue' followed by him throwing the ball on the boot to drag a goal back just before halftime. Not only did it reduce the margin, but it also gave Richmond hope.
The Tigers rode the momentum to run over the Cats in the second half.
Out of the four goals he booted in the game, each one was more impressive than the last. His second goal was ambitious, to say the least, as he took the ball out of a pack, ran a couple of steps and utilised an inside snap from about 45 meters out. It dribbled through, barely missing the post, and it gave Richmond the lead.
With about seven minutes remaining, he used pure strength, and in classic Dusty fashion, he broke a tackle around his waist, before slamming it onto his right boot from well beyond 50. It was an ill-advised decision in a crucial moment in the game, but it was Dusty. The entire stadium was left in awe as the ball once again dribbled through, and the camera panned to Dusty holding his jumper in jubilation.
The evening was capped off by Dusty intercepting a handball from Rhys Stanley, before breaking a tackle from Patrick Dangerfield, leaving Dangerfield as a spectator to watch Dusty bend it through from an impossible angle in the pocket. The final stat line read 21 disposals and four goals.
Three Grand Finals. Three premierships. Three best-on-ground performances.
No one else has ever done that.
As Dusty calls time on his career, it’s important to appreciate his momentous impact on the game and his great show of class loved not solely by Richmond fans, but all fans of the sport. His career is defined by dominance, success and passion. His mark on the game is undeniable, and the sport won’t be the same without him.
You’ll be sorely missed. Thank you, Dusty.
댓글