Well into his 15th AFL season, Dustin Martin will reach game 300 this weekend. It all kicked off back in late 2009 when a young lad from Castlemaine was drafted to the Tigers with pick number three in the AFL Draft.
His draft highlights consisted of vicious fend-offs, miraculous goals and pinpoint, ball-bursting passes.
The reel looked good, I mean really good, but then again everybody’s does and barring the draft successes of Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt, the Tigers had a long history of top-end draft busts hanging over their heads.
Who could forget when incoming coach Terry Wallace and the Tigers famously selected Richard Tambling out of the Northern Territory at pick four, one pick before Hawthorn selected Lance “Buddy” Franklin.
Buddy would go on to kick over 1000 goals in a long and illustrious career, etched in history as one of the game’s greatest ever. While Tambling would go on to play 124 games of AFL footy and while being a handy player, he was nothing compared to Franklin.
Although Richmond's pick one that year in Brett Deledio was a success, the Tigers didn’t maximise their opportunities with the talent available. Deledio would play 275 games of AFL, including 243 at Richmond to go down as one of the club’s best. While being an integral part of Richmond’s overall journey towards premiership success, he was unfortunately never a part of their three flags.
Now back to Dustin Martin. Richmond had accumulated many failed draft stories, but this certainly wouldn’t be another one. Martin's talent was undeniable from the start, making his debut in Round 1 of 2010 against arch-rival Carlton in front of 72,000 fans. Some say 'Dusty' was tagged from his second game, such was the game-defining talent the opposition knew he had.
He finished fourth in the club’s best and fairest that season, before signing a further two-year contract extension, already somewhere in the vicinity of half a million dollars per season. Before the 2011 season, he changed his number to the now famous No.4 and went from strength to strength. By the midway point of his second year, Martin had drawn comparisons to some of the all-time greats for his ball-winning talents and ability to kick goals as a midfielder.
He played every game in the 2011 season, placing third in the best and fairest and kicking 33 goals to emerge as one of the game’s most dangerous and prolific players. Dusty would then reach a pivotal point in his young career. After missing a mandatory training session, he was found to have taken sleeping pills and alcohol the night before with teammate Daniel Connors.
Martin was suspended for two matches, while Connors was sacked by the club after several serious off-field indiscretions. It was a case of ending a career to save another. Although he didn’t have a poor year, 2012 was arguably the worst of Dusty’s career.
(Photo: Blair Burns)
Further rumours of off-field misconduct would arise approaching the start of the 2013 season. Richmond assistant coach, Mark “Choco” Williams was tasked with mentoring Dusty away from the football club, which was a turning point in his young career. Over the next 12 years, Dusty would go on to achieve remarkable things that would put him up there with some of the greatest players ever.
Three premierships, the first of which was part of the Tigers 37-year drought breaker against Adelaide in 2017. Many believe his season was the best ever from an individual player, including Leigh Matthews.
“No player has ever had as good a year I suspect as Dustin Martin,” Matthews said.
Premiership, Norm Smith, Brownlow, best and fairest, best finals player and AFL Coaches Association MVP… simply remarkable.
He went on to win the Norm Smith Medal on that day in 2017, but he didn’t stop there. In a golden era for Richmond, Martin would go on to win two more premierships in 2019 and 2020, winning the North Smith Medals again on both of those occasions - a feat that will likely never be surpassed.
As we come to game 300 and the twilight of a brilliant career, Dustin Martin has revolutionised the Richmond Football Club. Quiet and unassuming off-field, his actions speak 1000 words on it. That is what intrigues all that come across him, what is behind the mask he puts up? How has he become one of the game's greats?
A thirst to be the best and a quiet confidence he could be, while remaining himself through the highs and lows of his career. Who knows how many more games remain, but one things for sure, he’ll go out on his own terms when he’s ready.
The man behind bringing this wonderful story to life is Francis Jackson, Richmond’s recruiting manager. The long-time Richmond draft chief reflected on Dusty in his early days.
“I remember his power, his ability to surge and his skills on either side of the body. It seemed there was nothing he couldn’t do,” Jackson said.
Tributes for one of the games greats will flow this week as all roads lead to the MCG this Saturday afternoon for his milestone game against Hawthorn.
Matthews who is widely regarded as the best player to ever play Australian rules football, gave a glowing tribute to Martin following the tigers Premiership victory in 2020.
“Put it this way: Dusty’s the only player I don’t get insulted being compared to,” he said.
“He has got the strength and power of a bricklayer, and the touch and the deft skills of a surgeon.
“When you’ve got those attributes, you become a prodigious talent. And not only that, he performs under pressure. He must have ice in his veins.”
Dustin Martin - Through the years
2009 - November 26
Dustin Martin is drafted to the Richmond Football Club with pick number three.
2010 - March 25
Martin makes his AFL debut against Carlton in front of 70,000 fans.
2011 - April 24
Plays his best game of AFL to date, 33 disposals and four goals in a thrilling victory against North Melbourne in just his 26th game.
2014 - June 28
Plays game 100 against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium in a win, records 24 disposals on the day.
2016 - August 5
Dusty plays game 150 in a win against Collingwood. Stars with 34 disposals and a goal, also awarded Life Membership by the Richmond Football Club.
2016 - September 1
Makes his first All- Australian team, selected on the interchange bench and also claims his first Jack Dyer Medal as Richmond’s best and fairest.
2017
Produces one of the best individual seasons on record, winning the Brownlow Medal, Premiership, North Smith Medal and Jack Dyer Medal.
2018 - September 6
Plays game 200 in the Qualifying Final against Hawthorn. Had 29 disposals and kicked one of the greatest finals goals.
2019 - September 28
Richmond and Dustin Martin etch themselves in history, winning their second premiership in three years and Martin secures his second Norm Smith Medal. The Tigers came away with a dominant 89-point win.
2020 - October 24
In game 244 Dusty leads Richmond to a second-half comeback win to beat Geelong in the 2020 night Grand Final at the Gabba.
2021 - April 24
Martin plays his 250th AFL game in the Anzac Day Eve clash against Melbourne. Richmond lose this game.
2021 - July 16
Martin has a heavy collision with Brisbane’s Mitch Robinson, resulting in a lacerated kidney that would keep him out for some time.
2022 - March 17
Dusty makes his return from a kidney injury against Carlton in Round 1, and then takes personal leave for two months following his father's passing.
2024 - June 15
*Dustin Martin to play game 300 against Hawthorn at the MCG.
All images used under a Creative Commons licence
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