Dustin Martin announces himself as a future Brownlow Medallist with third-place finish
DUSTIN Martin went to the Brownlow Medal on Monday night hoping for a “good time” and left a genuine contender for the years to come.
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DUSTIN Martin went to the Brownlow Medal on Monday night hoping for a “good time” and left a genuine contender for the years to come.
Martin, 25, might look at newly minted Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield and smile as he too boasts the tools required to win the game’s highest individual award.
The prolific ball-winner has the speed, skills and durability in spades, and has now added consistency to that irresistible mix.
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The All-Australian and Richmond best-and-fairest stamped his future Brownlow credentials with 25 votes to finish third behind Dangerfield (35) and Sydney’s Luke Parker (26).
Martin wasn’t alone as rising superstars Adam Treloar (21), Marcus Bontempelli (20) and Zach Merrett (19) also polled strongly.
The Tigers’ playmaker was shunned early, polling just twice in the first eight rounds, before a withering run through the middle rounds saw him rocket up the bunched leaderboard.
Martin’s impressive haul featured six three-vote games, including the polarising Round 17 clash with Essendon.
Former Carlton great Mark Maclure ignored Martin when dishing out his votes for ABC radio despite the ball magnet punching out a career-high 43 disposals.
Maclure said Martin’s disposals were mostly in the back half and “went two yards”.
Champion Data later revealed Martin had 18 ineffective kicks, the highest ever recorded, a stat Maclure said vindicated his decision.
The umpires obviously saw it differently.
It capped a breakout season for Martin, who led the Tigers in most statistical categories, despite a tumultuous preseason and having to deal with his father’s deportation earlier in the year.
Originally published as Dustin Martin announces himself as a future Brownlow Medallist with third-place finish
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