AFL 2021: Dustin Martin dominates with forward forays

He picked up exactly where he left off last season, and the stats show Richmond’s use of Dustin Martin forward is paying off, writes Mark Robinson.

Richmond champion Dustin Martin led the Tigers’ revival in the second quarter but the result wasn’t sealed until late in last quarter. Picture: Getty Images

It was a welcome return to the rhythm of Melbourne on Thursday night.

And the rhythm of Dusty Martin.

Like seeing a best mate you haven’t fetched eyes on for 12 months, it felt like the conversation picked up when you last left it.

Indeed, it was a night of firsts and a night of familiarity at the MCG.

And a night of inconsistency.

One match in, and the man-on-the-mark rule deserves to be sledged.

Watch the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Every match of every round Live on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Patrick Cripps gave the Blues the necessary grunt out of the middle. Picture: Getty Images

The Tigers won, which was expected, but the Blues displayed a level of character that indicated this forever ­rebuild may have taken a step forward.

They were plucky, the Blues, and more than occasionally inspirational. And without up to six of their starting personnel, they had the premier scrambling for 3½ quarters.

Each time the Tigers scooted 10 points up, the Blues scrambled back.

Leading the way was skipper Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh. Cripps is back to his gladiatorial best and his ­penchant to take on tacklers — chest first — might ­become his signature move, if it isn’t already.

Walsh announced himself as a bona fide centre-square midfielder. He had 32 disposals and six clearances.

EVERY KFC SUPERCOACH SCORE: TIGERS V BLUES

Marlion Pickett gives away a free kick to Levi Casboult for front on contact.

Richmond’s Noah Balta takes a strong mark during the first quarter. Picture: Michael Klein

It wasn’t a classic game, more a groundhog-day game, but the Blues will take more out of it than the Tigers. The Blues lost by 25 points. Last year it was by 24. The year before by 33. And the year ­before that 26.

Hello, Bill Murray.

So, are they getting better or is it the same old Blues? Think slightly the former.

Recruit Adam Saad excited, Paddy Dow was OK and faded in the second half, and Jacob Weitering got the job done on Tom Lynch.

The Tigers had 75 entries and Lynch kicked 1.1.

The Blues had only 41 entries, so perhaps the suggestion they staked a flag is premature. Thirty-four more entries is a domination in field play.

If anything, the Tigers at times were too selfish, especially when trying to dance and weave to find a shot a goal when teammates were demanding the ball.

Martin was not one of them. He was best afield again on Thursday night, kicking two goals and assisting in four others. If the ­buggers kicked straight, it would’ve been an absolute monster night from the No.4.

Patrick Cripps finds himself in a tackle by Shane Edwards.

Adam Saad had an immediate impact off halfback.

In the first half, the Tigers used Martin as a centre-square stoppage player and then moved him directly to the forward 50m arc.

It was anticipated the Blues would employ Cripps to do the same. It didn’t happen. In the first half, Martin’s midfield-forward split was 36-64. Cripps’ was 89-11. Cripps attended 12 centre bounces and Martin 10.

Players remonstrate as tensions run high in the opening match of 2021. Picture: Getty Images

In the second half, Martin was 52-48 forward-mid. Cripps was 70-30 mid-forward.

The Tigers had further ­inspiration, too.

Jack Riewoldt’s two goals from near the 50m line on boundary in the third quarter gave the Tigers separation, and his goal from the 50m boundary line in the final quarter was declaration this game was over.

Up the other end, and in the same third quarter, Carlton’s Harry McKay was run down in the goalsquare by Jayden Short. It was inspiration and demoralisation in the one play.

In a free-flowing, entertaining game, which the AFL is striving to create, one ­aspect of football will never change — you must take your chances.

Oscar McDonald celebrates one of his two goals after coming on as the sub. Picture: Getty Images

Dylan Grimes gets a handpass away against Michael Gibbons. Picture: Getty Images

McKay ended with 2.3 and Riewoldt 4.2. It was clutch from Jack.

A first was the use of the injury sub — Jack Silvagni for Oscar McDonald. He can’t take a trick, Silvagni, while McDonald was pretty active after halftime.

Naturally, the new rules will produce deep review.

There were only 81 tackles and 52 stoppages. On average during the past three years, there were 128 tackles and 63 stoppages.

Kevin Bartlett will be ­delighted because he has ­argued for a decade that no one barracks for the tackler.

Clearly, the game was more open, and it must be said Round 1 is typically more free-flowing. The curiosity is: can the coaches arrest that trend?

Originally published as AFL 2021: Dustin Martin dominates with forward forays