Dustin Martin ‘pretty impressive’ in Richmond’s win over North Melbourne

DAMIEN Hardwick says Dustin Martin’s upcoming break in New Zealand is fully deserved, as stats reveal the Tiger star’s 2017 season is far superior to last year.

Dustin Martin celebrates a goal against the Kangaroos. Picture: Getty Images

DAMIEN Hardwick says Dustin Martin’s upcoming break in New Zealand this week is fully deserved after the Richmond star played one of his best games in his side’s 35-point win over North Melbourne.

The out-of-contract midfielder amassed 38 possessions and kicked two goals against one of the teams chasing his signature in a multi-million-dollar race for his services for next season.

With the Tigers not playing next week, Martin, 25, will head across the Tasman to visit his father, Shane, who was deported to New Zealand last year.

He goes with the blessing of a coach who could not hide his admiration for his star midfielder’s output at Etihad Stadium.

“It was a pretty impressive game,” Hardwick said.

“Dustin has had a wonderful season thus far.

“He’ll go and catch up with his dad and say ‘hello’ ... and then he’ll be back to help us for a pretty important second half of the season.”

Dustin Martin is taken high by Sam Gibson. Picture: Michael Klein

While North Melbourne led by two points at halftime, there was always a feeling Richmond had more to give.

And to that end Hardwick said he was thrilled with the way his leaders stepped up after halftime, paying credit to vice-captain Jack Riewoldt’s efforts in a four-goal surge early in the third term.

The Tigers head to the break with a 7-4 record.

And despite suffering three close losses in a row prior to last week’s win over Essendon, Hardwick said he is happy with how his side is positioned.

“We’re probably a side that is very workmanlike in the way that we play,” he said.

“We probably get a lot of our goals off turnover goals.

“Our forward half is relatively inexperienced. I think we’re averaging 58 or 59 inside 50s a game, but because of that inexperience we probably don’t score the easy goals that we need to at various stages so it keeps the game close.

“But that will come. When you think of what guys like (Daniel) Rioli, (Dan) Butler, (Shai) Bolton and (Jason) Castagna are going to be like in two or three years it’s pretty exciting for our footy club.”

DUSTY’S IMPROVING

DUSTIN Martin won his first Richmond best and fairest last season and finished third in the Brownlow Medal.

This year he is better.

Martin has collected 329 disposals and kicked 16 goals in 2017 compared to 297 disposals and four goals after 11 matches last year.

The 25-year-old last night tallied more than 28 disposals and kicked multiple goals in the same game for the fourth time this year, a feat he achieved just twice in 2016.

Source: CHAMPION DATA

Originally published as Dustin Martin ‘pretty impressive’ in Richmond’s win over North Melbourne