AFL round 14: All the news, pictures and reaction from Dustin Martin’s 300th AFL game
More than 90,000 fans turned out to the MCG in an epic celebration of one of the AFL’s greatest careers. Go inside Dustin Martin’s 300-game milestone – a day when those immediate retirement rumours were quashed.
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Described by his coach as a “shy guy”, Dustin Martin put on a brave face.
Hawthorn spoiled his 300th game party with a 48-point win at the MCG on Saturday, but Martin made sure to acknowledge an adoring – and abundant – crowd which had numbered a staggering 92,311.
He stood in the centre of the venue where he has done much of his best work across a 15-year career and waved to every grandstand amid a standing ovation for the ages.
In a subsequent on-ground interview, Martin described his milestone week as “surreal”.
“Disappointing result for the club, but I love the Tiger Army so much,” Martin said.
“I love the club so much. It means the absolute world to me. All the love I received this week has just meant the absolute world to me, so thanks to everyone who sent me a message, social media, on the radio. I felt so loved this week so I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
A 48-point loss soured the mood in the Richmond rooms a little post-game, but plenty more love for Martin was shown.
Ex-teammates including Ben Cousins, Brett Deledio, Trent Cotchin, Jack Riewoldt, Jake King and Josh Caddy were all present.
So too was Martin’s manager, Ralph Carr, and former Tigers assistant Mark Williams.
Current Richmond assistant coach Chris Newman was Martin’s first captain in his debut match against Carlton in round 1, 2010.
While also shattered by the result, he couldn’t help but crack a smile amid the milestone celebrations.
“It seems like a thousand years ago now,” Newman said of Martin’s debut match.
“You look at his journey now and you couldn’t be more proud of the way he’s progressed through his journey as a footballer. There’s not too many boxes he hasn’t ticked.
“I think the one thing I’ve noticed coming back into the club is just how he’s grown as a person. He wouldn’t have said much in his first years at the club when I was there. He probably said more to the media than what he said around the club in the early days. But now he speaks up in meetings, he has influence around the group with his leadership. He’s just been an amazing representation of everything that the Richmond Football Club stands for.
“Although we didn’t get the results and I was really disappointed for him, I’m glad he had his moment because he deserves it.”
Martin quashed any immediate retirement rumours when asked if fans would see him back after the club’s bye to tackle Carlton.
“Yeah mate, freshen up for the bye and see how we go,” he said.
The Tigers don’t yet know what the future holds for their out-of-contract champion beyond this year.
However, the Tiger Army will hope to savour some more special Dusty moments in the second half of the season – just like his vintage goal from 50m on the run in the opening quarter against the Hawks.
“He’ll discuss that (the future) as it gets closer to the end of the year,” Richmond coach Adem Yze said.
“Right now, he’s in a really good space, he’s training well, he’s enjoying training, and he’s loving being around the footy club.”
“He’ll come back in on Friday fresh, as he has done, and we’ll look forward to the rest of the season.”
Martin became just the seventh Richmond player to reach 300 games for the club, joining an exclusive group which also includes Kevin Bartlett, Jack Dyer, Francis Bourke, Shane Edwards, Riewoldt and Cotchin.
And the Tiger Army turned out like it was a final.
Martin signed a raft of autographs before he had even stepped foot inside the MCG, appeasing admirers as he made the short walk from the Tigers’ Punt Rd headquarters with teammates.
Almost two hours before the game, a tracksuit-wearing Martin was applauded by thousands more fans as he ventured onto the hallowed turf for his first warm up.
The cheers only got louder from there.
The Richmond banner featured a cartoon image of a tattoo-covered Martin, with the only text reading “300”.
It didn’t need to say any more about the 2017 Brownlow Medal winner.
Martin’s full football resume simply wouldn’t have fit.
Once the clash against Hawthorn got under way, the script couldn’t have started any better.
Marin began the match in the goal square at the Punt Rd end and had his first touch – a handball – in the first two-and-a-half minutes.
The 32-year-old went on to kick the first goal of the game a little over two minutes later to really get the party started.
He got a handball receive from Hugo Ralphsmith and banged the ball through on the run from wide on the 50m arc.
It was vintage Dusty and every teammate got to him to celebrate what was his 338th career goal.
It was Martin’s 170th game at the MCG, a ground where he spearheaded the Tigers to two of their three premiership triumphs during a golden era and made his AFL debut against Carlton in round 1, 2010.
A tick over 13 million fans have seen Martin play live across 15 AFL seasons since then.
Many of the 92,311 who were at the MCG on Saturday didn’t exactly leave with a spring in their step given the result, but wouldn’t have regretted attending the 300th game of a true Tigers’ champion.
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Originally published as AFL round 14: All the news, pictures and reaction from Dustin Martin’s 300th AFL game
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